Arch Manning 'Edgy' After Texas Losses, Coach Sarkisian Says
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian describes his quarterback as 'edgy' following two consecutive losses to unranked opponents, with backup KJ Lacey seeing increased practice reps.
Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning is experiencing increased pressure following the team's back-to-back losses to unranked opponents, according to head coach Steve Sarkisian. Sarkisian described Manning as "edgy" during a recent press conference, noting that the quarterback is feeling the weight of the recent defeats.
Manning has been a focal point in these losses, committing critical fourth-quarter turnovers in both games. Against Oklahoma, he threw a pick-six and another interception, contributing to the team's struggles. These performances have put the Longhorns, who were once ranked No. 1, in a precarious position regarding their College Football Playoff hopes.
"I would use the word edgy, and I like it," Sarkisian stated. "He’s edgy right now…we created something else. I don’t know if we lost him, we created this, we did, all of us. Y’all included me, the whole thing, right? Everybody on ESPN, we’ve created this. And so we’ll see what comes out of it."
Sarkisian expressed appreciation for Manning's drive but emphasized the need for him to "fight back" by playing well with his teammates. The coach is looking forward to seeing Manning compete in the upcoming game against Ole Miss.
The Longhorns currently stand at 4-2 and face a challenging path to the playoff. Last season, the team finished 9-3 and did not qualify for the expanded 12-team playoff.
These comments follow a report from ESPN indicating that backup quarterback KJ Lacey would receive more first-team reps in practice. This move suggests the team might be considering benching Manning if necessary. When asked about potentially removing Manning from a game, Sarkisian noted that decisions would depend on the specific game situation, but acknowledged that Manning has prepared well for the upcoming matchup.
Texas, now ranked No. 19, is favored to win against No. 7 Ole Miss in their upcoming Saturday night game. The team's performance against Ole Miss will be crucial in determining their season trajectory and playoff aspirations.