The No. 19 Longhorns’ season is basically over if they drop another game this Saturday at home against No. 7 Ole Miss. It’s wild to think about, especially after all the hype surrounding head coach Steve Sarkisian’s squad, which boasts the most expensive roster in college football. This was supposed to be the year, with preseason Heisman favorite Arch Manning leading the charge, but things have gone sideways, and fast.
Arch Manning’s Heisman Dream Is Officially Over
Remember all the talk about Arch Manning being a Heisman shoe-in, making more this year than most of us will in a lifetime? Yeah, forget about it. That dream is officially toast. In fact, there’s even been talk about potentially benching the mega-hyped recruit this week because he’s just struggled so hard in back-to-back losses. Turnovers have been an absolute killer for the guy.
Manning threw two crushing fourth-quarter interceptions in the Red River Rivalry loss to Oklahoma on October 10. That game cost UT, who was ranked No. 1 nationally at the time, the win. Then, last week against unranked Florida, he only threw for 173 yards and fumbled in the final two minutes, letting the Gators seal the deal. Now, Manning’s Heisman odds are sitting at a staggering +30000, the same as Northwestern quarterback Aidan Chiles. Who saw that coming just two months ago? NFL scouts are clocking it too, with Manning no longer considered a top contender for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. He’s at +1100, way behind Ohio State wideout Jeremiah Smith, who’s leading at +210. Some whispers even say Manning might be back at Texas next season, with -200 odds he stays.
Texas’ Playoff Hopes Hang By A Thread Against Ole Miss
So, with Manning struggling and the team reeling, the stakes couldn’t be higher for Saturday’s AP Top 25 matchup against Ole Miss. A third straight loss would effectively kiss Texas’ Playoff hopes goodbye. It’s a huge moment for Sarkisian and this incredibly expensive roster.
The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC in Austin. Good news for the players, the weather looks decent: partly cloudy in the evening, low 62F, with winds from the southeast at 5 to 10 mph. The betting public is heavily favoring Ole Miss, with 68% of the handle and 73% of the bets on them against the spread. The total is split at 53.5. For Texas, it’s simple: win, or the season is all but done. It’s a must-watch, high-stakes game.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply