I dont imagine Steve Sarkisian thought, three months ago at , that Texas 2026 season would hinge on one October game amid growing concerns about Arch Mannings struggles on offense.
At the time, Sarkisian was discussing the Longhorns need to break through the College Football Playoff semifinals. Now, the conversation surrounding Texas centers on whether Arch Manning can make it through Saturday nights showdown against Ole Miss without Sarkisian being forced to turn to backup KJ Lacey.
“He’s very comfortable with who he is. He’s not trying to be something that he’s not,” at SEC Media Days about Manning.
Unfortunately for those that have rooting interest on ‘Forty Acres’ in the football program, we have reached the point where this has become a must-win game against Ole Miss, for a Longhorns team that continues to struggle on offense without many answers on how to fix it, besides letting Arch “rip it.”
Looking back to those conversations in Tampa before the season started, Arch Manning is now trying to be something he’s not by taking on an “edgy” mindset with his perceived back against the wall.
Or maybe it’s the opposite. Has Manning always been a young man that carried an edge about him, until Sarkisian tamed him?
Either way, Steve Sarkisian has noticed something different about his quarterback this week, which also comes at a time of heightened criticism towards the Texas offense.
“I dont know if we lost him. We created this. We did. All of us. Yall included. Me. The whole thing, right. Everybody on ESPN, weve created this. And so well see what comes out of it,” Sarkisian said about Manning’s persona this week.
A loss to the Rebels inside DKR Stadium on Saturday would all but seal the fate of this Texas team that has spent over $40 million in hopes of contending for a national championship this season.
Instead, the situation in Austin has taken a dramatic turn over the past three weeks.
Consecutive losses to unranked opponents â including a debacle against Florida â have forced staffers inside the football facility to operate with a sense of urgency. Meanwhile, those outside the program are wondering whether Manning and Sarkisian can finally produce a performance that matches the hype.
Yes, the fourth-quarter comeback win against Ohio State still carries weight in terms of upcoming CFP rankings.
But, with the subdued offensive numbers that Sarkisian and Arch Manning have produced over the past month, the pressure has now reached a fever pitch within the Texas fan base.
What does the Longhorns quarterback do with the pressure mounting on this offense to finally break through the fourth wall with enough firepower to keep up with an team like Ole Miss?
“Just letting it rip,” Arch Manning said this week. “Our backs are against the wall right now, and there’s no place I’d rather be. Just let her rip. I’m going to die on the hill of, I’m letting it rip.”
No more thinking, just doing. That’s the plan for a Texas offense that should be three steps ahead of its current state, if you factor in the amount of talent that takes the field on every drive.
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