Arch Manning Under Pressure

Arch Manning is definitely feeling the pressure these days.

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian described his quarterback as “edgy” following the team’s back-to-back losses to unranked teams.

The young quarterback played a significant role in these defeats, especially after Texas had entered Week 6 ranked as the top team in the nation. His fourth-quarter turnovers were critical, including a pick-six and another interception during the intense matchup against Oklahoma.

“I would use the word edgy, and I like it,” Sarkisian expressed after the loss to Florida at home. “He’s edgy right now… we created something else here. I’m not sure if we lost him, but we all played a part in this. Everyone did, including me. All of us—ESPN, everyone—has contributed to this. So, we’ll see what happens moving forward.”

He added, “Honestly, I appreciate that he’s feeling this way. At some point, he needs to push back. The best way for him to do that is by going out there and playing well with his teammates, and really enjoying the game together. I’m excited to see him compete this Saturday night.”

The Longhorns are now struggling to stay competitive, sitting at 4-2 and facing challenges for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Last year, they finished with a 9-3 record and missed out on the playoff cut.

Sarkisian’s remarks come on the heels of an ESPN report indicating that Texas backup KJ Lacey is set to receive more first-team practice reps, possibly signaling that a change might be made at quarterback if needed.

“It really depends; every game is different,” he said when asked if he would consider taking Manning out under circumstances other than a blowout. “I think Arch has had a solid week of practice and prepared well. But like the team, we need to perform, so we’ll see how it all plays out.”

Currently ranked No. 19 in the nation, Texas is set to face off against No. 7 Ole Miss on Saturday night, and they are favored to win.