Steve Sarkisian understands the expectations that come with playing quarterback at Texas, let alone the scrutiny that follows a quarterback from football's royal family.
But with the Longhorns coming off a 27-24 loss to Oklahoma — a game in which Arch Manning threw two costly interceptions — Sarkisian believes the conversation would be different if Manning carried a different last name.
"I think if you took the name off the back of his jersey and you said, 'Here’s Joe Smith playing quarterback at the University of Texas and here’s a guy who’s beaten four top-10 ranked teams in his last 13 starts,' we’d be praising the guy," Sarkisian said during a Monday news conference. "But the expectations are high for him. He understands that. The expectations are high for all
of us. We’ve got to put our nose back to the grind and get back to work."
“If you took the name off the back of his jersey… we’d be praising the guy.”
— Bleacher Report CFB (@BR_CFB) October 12, 2026
Steve Sarkisian on Arch Manning 👀
(via @orangebloods_) pic.twitter.com/Bvjq6P2LVl
Manning had a mixed performance against the Sooners, completing 19 of 31 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns. However, he also threw two costly picks, each in the fourth quarter. The first was returned for a game-tying, pick-6 by Peyton Bowen. The second helped set up Tate Sandell's game-winning field goal for Oklahoma.
The loss dropped his record to 14-4 — which includes a fourth-quarter comeback win in Week 2 against then-No. 1 Ohio State — as a full-time starting quarterback at Texas.
Texas fell five spots, from No. 1 to No. 6, in the updated US LBM Coaches Poll and six spots, from No. 1 to No. 7, in the updated AP Top 25 following the Oklahoma loss. The Longhorns host Florida at noon ET on Saturday, Oct. 17 at DKR Texas-Memorial Stadium.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Steve Sarkisian says Arch Manning would be praised - with different last name
