Arch Manning has become the center of attention as the Texas Longhorns attempt to recover from two damaging defeats, but ESPN's Rece Davis believes the quarterback shouldn't carry the entire burden for the team's disappointing performances.
Texas entered the season with championship ambitions, yet consecutive 27-24 losses to Oklahoma and Florida have left the Longhorns searching for answers.
Jeremiah Smith surges in Heisman race as Arch Manning’s hopes fade after another Texas loss
With a difficult matchup against No.7 Ole Miss approaching, questions are growing about Manning's performances and whether head coach Steve Sarkisian needs to consider a change under center.
Davis, the host of ESPN's College GameDay, offered a more measured assessment during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on October 21.
Rather than focusing exclusively on Manning, he highlighted wider offensive problems that have prevented Texas from performing to its potential.
“I think this is a real crossroads type moment for Texas as a team and for Arch as the quarterback,” Rece Davis said.
“Arch is super talented, but it just doesn’t look right, right now. It’s never one person’s fault. Everybody has to share responsibility, but you look at all of the weapons, they don’t do a great job on the offensive line.”
His argument is significant because Manning has struggled to meet expectations, but the Longhorns have enough talent across their roster that their offensive difficulties cannot easily be attributed to one player.
Davis pointed towards the offensive line, questionable decisions in the passing game and an ineffective running attack as possible contributors to the team's problems.
Steve Sarkisian and the offensive line
Davis' comments arrive at an uncomfortable time for Sarkisian, who has previously defended Manning amid calls for the highly rated quarterback to be replaced.
The situation is particularly striking because the coach faced similar questions two years ago, when Quinn Ewers was Texas' starter and Manning was waiting for his opportunity.
Now, with Manning in the starting role, the conversation has come full circle.
Davis believes Texas must find a way to make its considerable offensive talent work more effectively, rather than assuming a quarterback change would automatically solve the problem.
“Something has to change for Texas,” Davis said. “Now, does that have to be the quarterback, per se? I don’t know.
"But they’re too talented. They’ve got too much invested in terms of the big money question to perform offensively the way they’ve performed up to this point.”
The Florida defeat illustrated the problem. Texas established a 17-3 advantage during the second quarter but failed to maintain its momentum, eventually losing 27-24.
Manning finished with 173 passing yards and a touchdown on 14 completions from 20 attempts, but a late fumble added to the frustration.
The Longhorns also managed only 99 rushing yards, highlighting the difficulties extending drives on the ground.
Davis said he hoped the coaching staff could help Manning improve his decision-making and release the ball more quickly when opportunities arise.
“If they need to coach better, call plays better, get the ball out of his hand quicker, whatever it might be, I hope that happens for him,” he said, adding that it is difficult to watch a player with such ability struggle to show his best football.
Not everyone has been as sympathetic towards Sarkisian. Paul Finebaum has been considerably more critical of the coach, arguing that responsibility for the situation rests with him.
“This is on you, Sarkisian,” he said. “It’s terrible. It’s embarrassing what you’ve done to Arch Manning.”
Yahoo Sports columnist Dan Wolken has offered another perspective, suggesting that Manning's famous surname may be influencing how his performances are perceived.
Wolken argued that the consequences of Texas' struggles should ultimately fall on the coaching staff, regardless of whether the quarterback's name attracts additional scrutiny.
Manning himself has accepted responsibility, telling reporters: “I haven’t put good film on tape the past five weeks, and I’m going to be better.”
Sarkisian has continued to back him as the starter while acknowledging that improvement is necessary. ESPN has also reported that backup KJ Lacey Jr. could receive more first-team practice repetitions, adding another layer to the quarterback discussion.
Texas now faces Ole Miss on Saturday, October 24, at 6:30 p.m. CT in Austin. The Rebels arrive ranked No.7, making the game a major test for a Longhorns team that cannot afford another disappointing performance.
Manning will need to play better, but the bigger question is whether Texas can correct the problems around him.
If the offensive line continues to struggle, the running game remains ineffective and the play-calling fails to create easier opportunities, replacing the quarterback alone is unlikely to provide a complete solution.
For Sarkisian, the immediate challenge is to make the entire offense function as it was expected to. Davis' central point is straightforward: Texas has too much talent to keep producing these results, and responsibility for changing that must extend beyond Arch Manning.