‘Might Be Time To Pass the Sticks’ — CFB Analyst Boldly Advises Texas To Bench Arch Manning After QB’s ‘Average’ Performances

Texas quarterback Arch Manning has continued to bear the fallout from the Longhorns’ Week 6 upset loss to the Oklahoma Sooners at the Cotton Bowl. Manning has been under the spotlight throughout the season after failing to reach the preseason heights that tabbed him as one of the Heisman Trophy favorites.

This week, college football analyst Tom Fornelli suggested that the Longhorns might be best served with a different player under center.

Analyst Suggests Radical Arch Manning Plan for Texas

During Tuesday’s episode of CBS Sports’ “Cover 3 College Football” show, Fornelli suggested that if Manning and the Texas offense struggle against Florida, Sarkisian should consider either changing quarterbacks or giving up the offensive playcalling duties.

“It might be time to pass the sticks. Arch [Manning] is not playing well. Arch is like an FBS average QB,” Fornelli said. “If Arch struggles like he did against Ohio State, like he did against Oklahoma, like he did against UTSA in a game nobody was watching, I mean, this is a team with a defense that is clearly capable of competing for a national title. The offense isn’t, and at some point maybe you have to try something. Either [Steve] Sark[isian] gives up playcalling, or you try a different QB.”

With Manning under center, the Longhorns have earned a PFN’s CFB Team Offense Impact grade of 70.6 (No. 90 in the country). On the other hand, the Texas defense has earned a PFN’s CFB Team Defense Impact grade of 95.5 (No. 5 nationally), further showcasing the Longhorns’ Achilles’ heel this season as they attempt to win their first SEC championship and first national championship since 2005.

This season, Manning has registered 1,122 passing yards on 63% completion, 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, adding 102 yards on the ground, and has looked harried in the pocket, mistiming several throws at crucial moments in games. The Texas star has earned a PFN’s CFB QB Impact grade of 78.0 (No. 58 in college football).

Despite the quarterback’s mid-season wobbles, Hall of Famer Cris Carter suggested that the Longhorns were stuck with Manning and that they couldn’t bench him no matter his form.

“Who would come there? Like, unless it’s just straight money, who would come to Texas with Arch Manning? And guess what? They can’t bench him,” Carter remarked during a segment of the “Fully Loaded Podcast” earlier this week. “He can throw six interceptions, and they cannot bench Arch Manning in Texas.”

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The Longhorns missed the College Football Playoff during Manning’s first season as Texas’ full-time starter, and a repeat this season would surely taint his college football career.

Manning will have to shake off the midseason rust and lead the Longhorns through a gauntlet, including the Florida Gators, Ole Miss Rebels, Mississippi State Bulldogs, Missouri Tigers, LSU Tigers, and Texas A&M Aggies.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.