As the noise around college football continues to get louder pertaining to what is transpiring at Texas right now for Steve Sarkisian. It’s starting to become clearer that the Longhorns head coach is feeling the pressure regarding the ongoing situation with Arch Manning.
There are problems with the Texas offense that many thought would be fixed by the time its quarterback reached his second season as the starter.
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Unfortunately for those in Austin, the problems have only increased since the Longhorns put together a fourth quarter comeback to beat Ohio State in early September.
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Now, coming off their second straight loss, this time to unranked Florida, the college football world is wondering whether Sarkisian is ready to make the tough decision to bench Arch Manning if the quarterback cannot start putting together consistent play on the field.
Arch Manning No. 16 of the Texas Longhorns reacts after a 20-17 victory against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on Sept. 26, 2026, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Getty Images)
But, it should come as no surprise that Manning will be leading his team onto the field in Austin this weekend against Ole Miss as the starting quarterback. Though that doesn’t mean the Texas head coach is ready to risk the chances of them making the CFP if Arch cannot show progress in the first half on Saturday.
“I think there’s no doubt about it, Arch can play better for us,” Sarkisian said on Monday. “He’s our starter, but I need to see a better version of Arch Manning like I need to see a better version of a lot of guys on our offensive football team right now, but we need to see a better version of him this week.”
Sarkisian can say this until he’s blue in the face, but actually replacing the starting quarterback for 2nd-stringer KJ Lacey is going to be a decision that will come with ramifications.
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If this keeps up, Texas has no other choice but to make a move
Even though it would be undoubtedly the hardest decision Steve Sarkisian has had to make during his time in Austin, there are plenty of folks wondering if the Longhorns coach is prepared to yank his starting quarterback out of the game if the situation calls for it.
And I promise you there is plenty riding on the decision if it comes down to it.
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Steve Sarkisian cannot risk losing his job over Manning, even if it comes across as a coach falling on the sword.
Nor should he in this situation. I know it might shock folks, but one player cannot take precedence over a team fighting to make the postseason and compete for a title.
The problem for Texas is that it’s one loss away from losing out on all hope of the college football playoff.
But, if the Longhorns fail to capitalize on the amount of talent they have accrued via the transfer portal and recruiting, there will be a number of other decisions that need to be made from within the Texas athletic department regarding the future of this program.
Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian looks on before the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Sept. 26, 2026. (Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)
So, what in the world does this staff do in this situation besides riding out the storm and hoping it gets better this Saturday against Ole Miss?
Encouraging one the most high-profile players in college football to keep pushing, but also realizing that this is a business that comes with high-stake decisions.
“I think that’s our job as coaches, and that’s partly for Arch, the player, right? There are two parts to this, right? It’s continuing to pour into him and coaching him and putting him in the best frame of mind to be successful,” Sarkisian said.
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“Sometimes that’s patting him on the back. Sometimes that’s tough love, and we’ve got to be honest with him of where he needs to improve. And like I said earlier, we need to see a better version of him this week in practice and in game, because ultimately the player is in there, and it’s our job to try to get it out of them.
What would this mean for the future of Arch Manning?
That is the million-dollar question right now that has spurred plenty of conversation within the college football community.
There is nothing Arch has done this season that proves he is worthy enough to be a first-round pick in next year’s NFL Draft. But, that also doesn’t mean Manning is ready to test the professional waters rather than returning for another season.
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If Texas were to make a decision to go with KJ Lacey, would that then mean that the Arch experiment is over? Could Manning look to the transfer portal if things continue trending south in Austin?
These are questions that are being asked behind the scenes right now within the collegiate world, and they are becoming louder by the weekend.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, center, celebrates with his players after their win over Ohio State in an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
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Nobody really knows what the future holds for this Texas football program, but the evidence is starting to mount that Manning might not actually be the answer everyone thought he could be at some point.
And by the way, that’s ok. Arch does not have to live up to the hype, though it’s understandable why he feels the pressure.
But at the same time, Steve Sarkisian is risking his job with this Texas offense that is not producing results
So, the real question is whether the Longhorns coach is prepared to make one of the boldest decisions of any coach’s career and bench a ‘Manning’.
Sarkisian is hoping it doesn’t come to that, though I can assure you he’s at least starting to think about it.