On Saturday afternoon, Longhorns fans got a preview of the future as Texas rolled to a 59-7 win over Texas State. With the Longhorns comfortably ahead, quarterback Arch Manning was replaced after throwing for over 300 yards and four touchdowns for KJ Lacey. The talented freshman only played a few series, but he made the most of his snaps.
In relief of Manning, Lacey completed six of his seven passes for 55 yards. While he was unable to find the end zone, the former top recruit showed great decision-making and averaged seven yards per pass. He also got some action in the running game with three yards on two carries.
The future is bright for Texas at quarterback. What a throw from KJ Lacey. pic.twitter.com/tC7p0Xd2wr
— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) September 5, 2026
While Lacey's playing time was
limited, his success came as no surprise. He was ranked as the 19th-best quarterback in his class by 247Sports. They also ranked the Saraland High product as the 15th best player from Alabama. Due to his stellar play in high school, Lacey was named Alabama’s “Mr. Football” as a senior, which made him a popular name for teams in need of a QB and a big pickup for Texas.
As Lacey frustrated the Texas State defense, he also received praise from the Longhorns coaching staff, including head coach Steve Sarkisian. When asked about Lacey's play in the second half, Sarkisian said, " I just think there's a level of consistency and comfort in the system. He definitely has playmaking ability."
Perfect back shoulder placement from Texas QB KJ Lacey. pic.twitter.com/6Dv82mBKRz
— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) September 5, 2026
Although his opportunities will be limited, Lacey has shown that he can step in when needed. Through his first two years as a Longhorn, Lacey has completed seven of his eight passes for 62 yards. Those numbers should continue to improve as long as the Longhorns offense meets expectations.
Regardless of how often Lacey gets on the field this year, he will be an exciting player to watch with plenty to prove on a team with national title hopes.
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This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Longhorns backup QB KJ Lacey flashes potential in win over Texas State
