‘He Goes Off Script’ — National Champion QB Shifts Blame From Steve Sarkisian to Arch Manning for Texas’ Offensive Woes

Days after unranked Oklahoma beat No. 1 Texas 27-24 in Dallas, the question hanging over the Longhorns is who answers for the team’s inconsistent offense: quarterback Arch Manning or head coach and play-caller Steve Sarkisian.

Texas led 17-7 at halftime. After Oklahoma pulled even, Manning threw two fourth-quarter interceptions that the Sooners turned into 10 points. The Longhorns converted 3 of 14 third downs and were held scoreless in the third quarter, punting on all three of their possessions in the period.

Danny Kanell Puts More Blame on Arch Manning Than Steve Sarkisian

Danny Kanell is a former Florida State and NFL quarterback who won a national championship in college, and he is now a CBS Sports analyst and a co-host of the “Cover 3 College Football” podcast. He shared his thoughts on who deserves more blame.

“I don’t think Arch is seeing the field really well. I watched the first half. There was a lot of plays left on the field. Again, is this Sark telling him where to throw? Looking at it from what I think the progressions are, I think Arch makes some decisions where he goes off the script and does what he wants to do, and I think it’s really hurting him. I don’t think it’s Sark is the problem.”

Manning’s first interception came after Lloyd Avant’s 2-yard touchdown run tied the game early in the fourth quarter. A holding penalty left Texas at second-and-13 from its own 20. On the next snap, Peyton Bowen intercepted a throw intended for Cam Coleman and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown with 10:07 left, the first pick-six of Manning’s career.

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“I was trying to extend a play, throw it to Cam, and missed high,” Manning said after the game. “[I] can’t do that backed up and give them the lead.”

Manning answered with a seven-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Bishop Jr. with 6:32 left. After Gianni Spetic missed a 53-yard field goal, Texas got the ball back. Courtland Guillory then intercepted Manning on a blitz at the Oklahoma 39 with 19 seconds left, setting up Tate Sandell’s game-winning field goal.

Manning said Texas beat itself and that protecting the ball starts with him. He finished 19 of 31 for 260 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. In Pro Football Network’s CFB QB Impact Score, Manning is currently tied for 58th out of 170 qualified FBS quarterbacks.

Sarkisian credited Manning’s competitiveness after the game, even on the pick-six: “He’s made a lot of plays scrambling out of the pocket. And he went to make a play and the ball gets intercepted on the one they run back.”

Sarkisian added that Manning would probably love to have that throw back but was competing. He also said Texas has to run the ball better so the offense is not all on his quarterback’s shoulders. The Longhorns ran 32 times for 122 yards, and no player had more than 12 carries.

Sarkisian Takes Full Responsibility as Texas Turns to Florida

Sarkisian, who said after the game there was no chance that he’ll give up playcalling duties, looked inward again on Monday.

He said he can always do better. When the offense goes three-and-out or turns the ball over, he said, he looks at himself first before asking whether players are executing. “And so I think it’s a combination of all that, but ultimately that’s my job, and I take full responsibility of that,” he said.

Talking about how Manning is processing the field, Sarkisian defended his quarterback, saying he is processing fine and pointing to the scheme and the momentum of the game.

“I think 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.”

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The loss was Texas’ first of the season and dropped the Longhorns to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the SEC.

After Week 6, Kanell ranked his top-12 teams, which had Georgia No. 1 and Texas at 12th.

PFN’s College Football Playoff Meter still gives Texas a 71.9% chance to make the College Football Playoff.

Texas will now face Florida on Saturday at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin.

It is the first of three straight home games. The Playoff Meter gives the Longhorns a 74.1% chance to win, with their playoff odds rising to 78.7% with a victory and falling to 52.3% with a loss.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.