newsweek
According to Anwar Richardson of OrangeBloods, the Manning family has been in contact with Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian as he evaluates all aspects of the program, including the quarterback position, following the Longhorns' second loss of the season—a 27-24 defeat to Florida at home on Saturday. The family has reportedly given Sarkisian their "blessing" to handle the starting quarterback situation however he sees fit.
In the loss to the Gators, Arch Manning completed 14 of 20 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown against one of the SEC's weaker secondaries, but he was sacked five times, including a strip-sack fumble on Texas' final offensive possession. Through six games this season, Manning has completed 63.9% of his passes for 1,295 yards, 11 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Richardson, speaking on his YouTube show Tuesday, said the Manning camp is "very well grounded" on the situation and has granted Sarkisian the freedom to make any changes. However, Richardson noted that those feelings could shift if Manning is benched, as such a move would likely generate significant negative publicity. Meanwhile, redshirt freshman KJ Lacey Jr. has been given more repetitions with the first-team offense in practice as the Longhorns prepare to host No. 7 Ole Miss on Saturday. Lacey has seen limited action in wins over Texas State and UTSA, completing 7 of 8 passes for 63 yards.
Key Analysis
Benching Manning would represent a desperate move for Sarkisian, who is under pressure to keep Texas in College Football Playoff contention with a roster many considered the best in the nation before the season. It would also raise questions about Sarkisian's quarterback development, given that Quinn Ewers—whom Sarkisian developed—was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft. A change at quarterback would mark the second highly recruited signal-caller under Sarkisian who failed to meet expectations, pointing to potential issues with either scouting or development at the position.
Originally reported by newsweek.