Urban Meyer Questions Arch Manning's Development, Suggests Bench Decision

Urban Meyer, a three-time national championship-winning coach, has expressed concerns about the recent performance of Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning, stating that the young player has "gone backwards" since his notable second half against Ohio State. Meyer shared his assessment on OutKick's "Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich," suggesting that Manning's play has regressed despite the addition of talented wide receivers Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo this season.

Meyer recalled Manning's performance in the second half of the Texas comeback win against Ohio State, calling it "phenomenal." However, he noted that Manning's subsequent play has not lived up to that standard. Last season, Meyer suggested that a lack of strong wide receiver play could have been an excuse for Manning's struggles, but he sees that as less viable this year.

The Longhorns have lost two consecutive games, and Manning has struggled in both. Meyer believes the team is at an "inflection point" and suggested that a quarterback change might be necessary, drawing a parallel to Michigan's decision to bench their quarterback, which Meyer believes led to a crucial win. He also pointed to coach Kyle Whittingham's decision to change quarterbacks at Utah, which he stated revitalized the team.

Meyer indicated that backup quarterback K.J. Lacey Jr. has been receiving more first-team reps. He urged Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian to consider reallocating practice time away from Manning. "You got to start giving that guy reps and then at (that) point, it's going to be a really really difficult decision if he's going to make that decision to make a change, because I'm really worried about Texas. They look awful," Meyer said.

Following their loss to Florida, Texas dropped from No. 12 to No. 19 in the latest AP Top 25 poll. The team faces a challenging schedule ahead, including a matchup against No. 7 Ole Miss.