Arch Manning remains Texas starting QB, but Steve Sarkisian says he needs a 'better version' of Longhorns star

The Longhorns coach went long on his team's quarterback situation entering Saturday's game against Ole Miss

Oct 19, 2026 at 1:09 pm ET • 1 min read

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian is sticking with Arch Manning as his starting quarterback ahead of Saturday's showdown with seventh-ranked Ole Miss, but he acknowledged the leash on the former five-star could be shortened this season.

"Arch can play better for us; he's our starter, but I need to see a better version of Arch Manning," Sarkisian said Monday. "Like I need to see a better version of a lot of guys on our offensive football team right now. We need to see a better version of him this week."

After previous reports of backup KJ Lacey seeing an "uptick" in first-team reps in practice this week after Manning's struggles over the weekend against Florida, Sarkisian said Lacey takes first-team reps every week.

Sarkisian said after Saturday's 27-24 loss to the Gators that "everything" would be evaluated throughout his program following the Longhorns' recent two-game skid that torched their top-10 ranking.

This comes after Sarkisian defended Manning after his two-interception, fourth-quarter performance during a loss to Oklahoma this month and said his quarterback always receives unfair criticism.

The tune has changed a bit after Manning lost his first career home game over the weekend thanks to a costly late-game fumble.

"I just felt like we didn't play good offensive football, and we're not playing great offensive football right now," Sarkisian said.

Manning has regressed this season from a consistency standpoint when compared to the final six starts of the 2025 campaign, his first as a starter. Manning has thrown for 1,295 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions this season, four of those giveaways coming against Power Four competition.

The attention to Manning seems to have played a part in the Longhorns' lack of cohesion offensively, from execution to play-calling from Sarkisian. Texas ranks 12th in the SEC in total offense after seven games, 13th in rushing offense and 15th in explosive plays — stunning numbers when you consider the overall talent on the Longhorns' roster.

Manning's response to Sarkisian's evaluation remarks was swift and honest.

"Yeah, I mean everyone's evaluated every week. That's how it is when you go to a school like this with elite players. Everyone's gotta get better, and that starts with me," he said.