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Steve Sarkisian says Arch Manning is ‘ready for the moment’ as Texas starter
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Steve Sarkisian was content to name Arch Manning as his starting quarterback for the 2025 season when he visited with Kay Adams on the Up & Adams Show on Thursday.
Doing so wasn’t exactly breaking news. Sarkisian said Manning will have to earn his keep, but with Quinn Ewers moving on from Texas, the time is now for the former No. 1 overall recruit. And Sarkisian told Adams he believes Manning is ready for the job.
“It’d be pretty tough for me to say he’s not going to be our starting quarterback,” Longhorn coach Steve Sarkisian said with a grin. “He started a couple games for us last year, played really good football. Our first game in the SEC against Mississippi State, he was our starting quarterback.
“I think the exposure that he’s had, I think he’s ready for it and I think he’s ready for the moment. We’ve got a pretty good team. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”
In 10 appearances for the Longhorns last season, Manning threw it 90 times while completing 67.8% of his passes for 939 yards and 9 touchdowns. He was picked off just twice. In the start against Mississippi State, Manning was dynamite. He completed 26 of his 31 pass attempts for 325 yards and 2 touchdowns.
He also added a rushing score and 33 yards on 6 carries. While his uncles were a bit more statuesque in the pocket, Manning is much more fleet of foot. When he replaced Ewers in the UTSA game, Manning broke a 67-yard run as part of a dazzling 5-touchdown performance.
Expectations for Manning’s full-time debut are through the roof. At BetMGM, he’s the outright favorite to win the Heisman Trophy with +700 odds. Sarkisian will have to insulate his third-year quarterback to an extent, but Manning has dealt with pressure his entire football career.
“We’re in February, we’ve got a long way to go until the fall rolls around, but we’re in a good spot to have a pretty good football team and it’s going to be even better knowing he’s the guy for us,” Sarkisian said.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
