Arch Manning
The Texas Longhorns enter their Week 8 matchup against Ole Miss carrying the weight of consecutive heartbreaking losses and growing questions about their quarterback.
After opening the season 4-0 with wins over Texas State, then-No. 1 Ohio State, UTSA and Tennessee, Texas has dropped identical 27-24 decisions to Oklahoma and Florida. The Longhorns now sit at 4-2 overall and 1-2 in the SEC, their College Football Playoff hopes hanging in the balance as they prepare to host the No. 7 Rebels (5-1, 3-1 SEC) on Saturday, Oct. 24, at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium (6:30 p.m. CT, ABC).
At the center of the scrutiny is Arch Manning. The highly touted quarterback from the famous football family has shown flashes of the talent that once made him a projected top NFL Draft pick, but inconsistency and costly mistakes have defined much of his 2026 campaign.
Through six games, Manning has completed 106 of 166 passes (63.9 percent) for 1,295 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. His passer rating sits at 145.2. Those numbers look solid on the surface, yet the context reveals deeper problems. Texas has failed to score more than 24 points against any Power conference defense this season. Manning has been sacked 17 times, and the offense has struggled to find rhythm in the run game despite offseason investments in the backfield.
The recent stretch has been particularly damning. Against Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry, Manning threw for 260 yards and three touchdowns but also tossed two critical fourth-quarter interceptions — one a pick-six — that directly contributed to the 27-24 defeat. One week later against Florida, a Gators secondary ranked near the bottom of the SEC in pass defense, he completed 14 of 20 passes for just 173 yards and one touchdown. A 62-yard connection late provided a spark, but Manning was sacked five times, managed zero rushing yards on 10 carries, and lost a fumble on the final drive that sealed the loss. His ESPN QBR in that game plummeted to 20.6.
“Was Arch perfect? No, but nobody was perfect on offense today,” head coach Steve Sarkisian said after the Florida collapse. “We took turns today, and that’s where I have to look at every aspect of what we’re doing… Could he have been better? No doubt about it. But there’s some other issues that need to be addressed.”
Sarkisian stopped short of guaranteeing Manning’s starting job for the Ole Miss game, saying everything is under evaluation. Backup Karle “KJ” Lacey Jr. has seen limited action. Analysts and fans have grown increasingly vocal, with some questioning whether the pedigree has outpaced the production this season. Manning has been described as conservative at the wrong times and aggressive when the situation demands caution — a pattern that has produced both highlight throws and momentum-killing turnovers.
Ole Miss arrives in Austin riding momentum of its own. The Rebels dismantled then-No. 13 Missouri 31-3 on homecoming, with quarterback Trinidad Chambliss accounting for four touchdowns and the defense holding the Tigers to just three points. Chambliss has thrown for 1,676 yards and 14 touchdowns this season, while the Ole Miss ground game features a pair of 100-yard rushers in recent wins. A victory in Austin would further solidify the Rebels’ place among the SEC’s top contenders and strengthen their playoff résumé.
For Texas, the stakes are clear. Another loss would drop the Longhorns to 4-3 and 1-3 in conference play, making a return to the 12-team College Football Playoff far more difficult. A strong response — particularly a clean, efficient performance from Manning — could stabilize the season and reassert Texas as a serious factor in the SEC race.
The Longhorns still possess talent on both sides of the ball. Their defense ranks among the nation’s better units in total yards allowed. But the offense must find consistency, and that starts with the quarterback under center. Manning has the physical tools and pedigree. What he needs now, against a confident Ole Miss team, is the steady execution that has so far eluded him in the biggest moments of 2026.
Saturday night in Austin will reveal whether the Longhorns can right the ship or whether the recent struggles are a deeper problem still searching for answers.