Texas coach Steve Sarkisian and quarterback Arch Manning face a must-win game on Saturday night when the Longhorns host Ole Miss at DKR Stadium. A loss would likely end Texas's hopes of contending for a national championship this season, after a team that has spent more than $40 million on its roster has struggled on offense.
When Sarkisian spoke at SEC Media Days three months ago, his focus was on Texas breaking through to the College Football Playoff semifinals. The conversation has since shifted to whether Manning can get through the Ole Miss game without Sarkisian being forced to turn to backup KJ Lacey. Sarkisian had described Manning at that event as comfortable with who he is and not trying to be something he is not.
The mood around the program has changed sharply in recent weeks. Texas has lost consecutive games to unranked opponents, including a loss to Florida, and staffers inside the football facility are operating with a sense of urgency. The fourth-quarter comeback win over Ohio State still carries weight in the upcoming playoff rankings, but the subdued offensive numbers produced by Sarkisian and Manning over the past month have pushed pressure within the Texas fan base to a high point.
Manning has leaned into a more aggressive approach. « Just letting it rip, » he said this week. « Our backs are against the wall right now, and there's no place I'd rather be. » He has also been portrayed as taking on a more edgy persona, a shift that has drawn commentary. Sarkisian addressed that directly, saying he did not know whether the team had lost Manning and that everyone involved, including the media, had helped create the attention surrounding him.
Sarkisian has also acknowledged that the offense needs to improve across the roster, not only from Manning. « I think there's no doubt about it, Arch can play better for us, » Sarkisian said Monday. « He's our starter, but I need to see a better version of Arch Manning like I need to see a better version of a lot of guys on our offensive football team right now. » Earlier, Sarkisian had said he would evaluate everything and would not rule out benching Manning amid the two-game skid.
Outside the program, the debate has centered on Manning's ceiling. Former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf, appearing on the Craig Carton show, described Manning as an average college quarterback, while noting that his talented teammates make his situation look better than it is. Leaf said Manning has the potential to keep improving and that it would be a mistake for a team to draft him high if another season would help his development.
Ole Miss arrives with an offense that has been productive behind quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, and a defense led by coordinator Pete Golding that is pursuing its own path toward the postseason. For Texas, the game will determine whether it remains part of the national conversation when the first College Football Playoff rankings are released in a few weeks. The result will also serve as the first major test of the Sarkisian and Manning partnership at Texas.