Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday that quarterback Arch Manning draws outsized criticism because of his last name, defending his starter two days after a costly fourth-quarter collapse in the Red River Rivalry. Sarkisian made the comments in Austin, Texas, following Texas’s 27-24 loss to Oklahoma on Saturday.
“If you took the name off the back of his jersey and you said, ‘Here’s Joe Smith playing quarterback at the University of Texas and here’s a guy who’s beaten four top-10 ranked teams in his last 13 starts,’ we’d be praising the guy,” Sarkisian said.
Sarkisian’s Defense Of Arch Manning
Manning is the grandson of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning and nephew of Super Bowl champions Eli and Peyton Manning. Sarkisian argued that pedigree shapes how fans and media judge every throw Manning makes, for better or worse.
The coach pointed to specifics rather than reputation. Manning has gone 14-4 as Texas’s full-time starter, according to Sarkisian, a record the coach said gets overlooked in the aftermath of a tough loss.
Sarkisian also noted that Manning played well for most of Saturday’s game before the fourth quarter unraveled. “Everybody’s a little bit different…I think Arch is on a nice trajectory,” Sarkisian said.
What It Means: Breaking Down The Oklahoma Loss
Manning completed 19 of 31 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns against Oklahoma, but two fourth-quarter interceptions swung the outcome. Oklahoma’s Peyton Bowen returned one for a pick-six that tied the score, and the second interception set up Tate Sandell’s game-winning field goal.
Sarkisian referenced Manning’s track record in pressure situations to make his case. “We know he can be really good in critical moments. We saw that here against Ohio State.
We saw that in the fourth quarter drive against Tennessee,” Sarkisian said. Manning led Texas to a 24-23 comeback win over then-No. 1 Ohio State on Sept. 12 after trailing by 20 points in the fourth quarter.
Manning himself addressed the scrutiny Monday, echoing his coach’s framing. “I think if you took the name off the back of his jersey…we’d be praising the guy,” Manning said. “But the expectations are high for him, and he understands that. The expectations are high for all of us, so we gotta put our nose back to the grind and get to work.”
Manning added, “It’s not fun when it’s happening but there’s only one way to respond. You can let it linger and let it affect the next week, or you can bounce it back. So you have one choice.”
Season Numbers And Program Context
Manning has completed 63% of his passes this season for 1,122 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. Through four games, before the Oklahoma loss, he had completed 73 of 115 passes for 862 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions as Texas started 4-0.
The surrounding numbers complicate any single read on Manning’s season. Texas ranks 59th nationally in scoring at 31.4 points per game and 79th in total offense at 379.2 yards. The Longhorns converted just 44.6% of third downs this season overall and sit in the bottom half of the country at a 39.2% third-down rate through recent games. Against Oklahoma, Texas managed only 122 rushing yards on 3.8 yards per carry, with Derek Cooper leading the team at 41 yards, and the offense stalled for seven three-and-outs.
Manning entered the year as a projected top pick in the 2027 NFL draft and a Heisman Trophy contender. CBS Sports NFL Draft analyst Ryan Wilson said he has spoken with NFL officials who believe Manning has not lived up to those expectations, adding he would currently rank five quarterbacks ahead of Manning in a draft held today, according to Yahoo Sports.
Program Impact After The Red River Loss
The loss dropped Texas from No. 1 to No. 6 in the US LBM Coaches Poll and from No. 1 to No. 7 in the AP Top 25. Sarkisian has faced his own set of questions about the program’s direction this season, a topic covered recently by Total Apex Sports, and he has said he intends to keep calling plays following the Oklahoma defeat, a decision detailed in a separate report.
Texas’s offensive efficiency numbers, from third-down conversions to rushing output, suggest the Longhorns’ issues extend beyond any single quarterback. The Ohio State comeback earlier this season, which Total Apex Sports covered in detail, remains the clearest evidence Sarkisian and Manning point to when describing his ceiling in close games.
What’s Next
Sarkisian did not announce any changes to Manning’s starting role following Monday’s comments. Texas will look to respond to the Oklahoma loss and reclaim ground in the national rankings as the season continues, with the staff’s immediate focus on correcting the third-down and rushing struggles that surfaced in the Red River Rivalry defeat.
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