The No. 1 team in the nation, Texas, just got absolutely rocked by unranked Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry, dropping a 27-24 heartbreaker. And guess who’s squarely in the spotlight? Arch Manning, whose wild fourth-quarter performance included not one, but two absolutely brutal interceptions that swung the game. It’s a gut punch, no doubt about it.
Manning’s Rollercoaster Ride and Texas’s Offensive Woes
Texas fans had to be pulling their hair out watching the Longhorns offense unravel in the second half. It was a classic “boom-or-bust” show, exactly what’s been plaguing them all season. Manning flashed some serious brilliance with a few phenomenal downfield passes, like that opening touchdown strike to Cam Coleman. But then the wheels came off. We’re talking a pick-six that handed Oklahoma the lead and then another interception at the end of regulation that set up the Sooners’ game-winning field goal. That’s a brutal way to lose, especially for the top-ranked squad. You just can’t have those kinds of mistakes in crunch time.
The questions are swirling: Is this offense championship-caliber? The consistency just isn’t there, and it’s clearly frustrating for fans and even Coach Sarkisian. Texas is straight-up in the bottom half of the country for third-down conversions, clocking in at a dismal 39.2%. All those constant three-and-outs? That’s a huge problem. For a fourth-year player like Manning, still having issues with turnovers and keeping the offense on track, it raises some serious flags about his development.
Sarkisian’s Fiery Defense and the ‘Name’ Game
Despite the fourth-quarter collapse, head coach Steve Sarkisian came out swinging on Monday, fiercely defending his star quarterback. He got grilled about Manning’s processing, and Sarkisian’s answer was pretty wild. He’s saying the whole conversation would be different if Manning didn’t have that famous last name on his jersey. “If you took the name off the back of his jersey and you said here’s Joe Smith playing quarterback at the University of Texas and here’s a guy who’s beaten four top-10 ranked teams in his last 13 starts, we’d be praising the guy,” Sarkisian insisted. That’s a bold take!
Sarkisian believes Manning is “processing fine” and that great offense is an “all 11” thing, a mix of scheme and game momentum. He admits the expectations are sky-high for Manning and the entire team, and they all just gotta “put our nose back to the grind.” He’s still insisting Manning is on a “nice trajectory,” even after those two costly picks. Sarkisian hated it for Arch, saying he thought his QB played “pretty good up until that point.” But “pretty good” isn’t enough when you’re No. 1 and battling for the win in the final minutes. Sarkisian himself will continue calling plays, so don’t expect any staff changes there. The message is clear: consistency is needed, and they gotta find it fast.
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.
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