‘It’s time’: Texas coach sparks reactions as he considers benching Arch Manning

The Texas Longhorns opened the season as the No. 1 team in the country, but two straight losses have put their College Football Playoff hopes in serious jeopardy. And with Arch Manning struggling, head coach Steve Sarkisian isn’t ruling out a quarterback change.

Following Saturday’s home loss to the Florida Gators, Sarkisian was asked whether he had considered replacing Manning, and he made it clear that nothing is off the table. Needless to say, his comments got plenty of people talking.

Texas Falls to Florida

Texas built a 17-3 lead over Florida on Saturday, thanks in part to a 63-yard punt return touchdown from Ryan Niblett. But the Gators, playing with backup quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. in his first career start, answered with 24 straight points on their way to a 27-24 upset.

Manning went 14-for-20 for 173 yards and a touchdown, but he also lost a fumble that all but sealed the loss. That came just one week after his late interception helped Oklahoma beat Texas in regulation.

Manning has also thrown for more than 250 yards in just one of his last five games. Now 4-2, Texas still has Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Missouri, and LSU on the schedule over the next four weeks.

‘Everything is going to be evaluated’

Asked after the game if he would consider a change at quarterback, Sarkisian left the door open.

“We’re not playing good offensive football right now, so everything is going to be evaluated,” Sarkisian said, via On3.

If Texas does make a move, the next man up would be redshirt freshman K.J. Lacey, a former four-star recruit who has played in two games this season. Sarkisian also didn’t hold back about his team’s performance as a whole.

“Obviously we’re extremely disappointed. We didn’t play very good football today outside of the first quarter,” Sarkisian said, via Inside Texas. “Very disappointed, but we’ll work and get back. We’ve got a better team than how we’re playing right now. It’s my job to figure out how to get us to play closer to our potential.”

Benching Manning, who entered the season as the favorite to go No. 1 overall in the 2027 NFL Draft, would be a stunning move. But it certainly sounds like it’s on the table.

‘He’s benched’

“He’s benched,” wrote Big Cat of Barstool Sports.

“Anybody predict Arch might get *benched* before the season started?” wrote Ringer editor Bryan Curtis.

“Could Arch march to the sideline to watch for at least a week?” wrote Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post.

“He should. He benched Ewers for less,” wrote Dallas Cowboys writer Clarence Hill Jr., adding “it’s time” in another post.

“We can’t put it all on Arch… Situational football has to be questioned as well…,” wrote Dez Bryant.

“Honestly, benching Arch and seeing if KJ can spark the offense might be the only move he has. It’s desperate, but they are desperate at this point,” wrote longtime football writer Mike Herndon.

Clearly, whether it’s Manning or Sarkisian taking the blame, the pressure in Austin is only going to keep building.

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