Manning In The Arena: Texas' Steve Sarkisian Uses 'Joe Smith' to Combat Arch Critics

We don't know what it's like.

We were never the 5-star prospect possessing a cannon for an arm. We haven't become an immediate campus celebrity at the age of 18, even before taking part in whatever that notoriety is derived from. And we certainly haven't been attached to a name that bears uncontrollable, and frankly, such unachievably high acclaim that it feels as though our future is already written.

We, the critic, are not the doer of deeds, so to speak.

We have also not had to answer to the critics for our shortcomings. But Arch Manning knows that arena.

The Texas Longhorns' crushing loss in Dallas to Red River rival Oklahoma momentarily brought the hype around Manning's career back to a sensible level, a level that's actually become the norm for Manning's time in Austin since finally receiving a shot at reaching those expectations.

In a year and a half as the Longhorns' starting quarterback, the heir to football’s most famous family has shown flashes of the destiny that has anointed him with projections of being a first-round NFL draft pick and the savior of some needy franchise. His miraculous fourth-quarter comeback to dethrone Ohio State earlier this year is an example.

But that has come with equal parts disaster, littering tabloids with terms like "flop" and "bust." His five interceptions through five games this year, including the two that directly led to 10 Sooners points and a 27-24 defeat that dropped Texas from its top ranking, are an example.

If you'd ask coach Steve Sarkisian, Manning's jersey reading Manning determines why we are less surprised by Arch's heroics and more alarmed by his faults.

"I think that he's processing fine," Sarkisian said when he was lobbed a question about Manning's heritage playing into perceptions of him as a player and his adjustment to it all.

Sarkisian's defense argued that offensive success depends on "all 11 playing as one," not just the quarterback's efficiency. That collective effort is also among the Longhorns' struggles this season, despite just the one loss.

"I think if you took the name off the back of his jersey," Sarkisian continued, "and you said, you know, 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 - you'd be praising the guy.

"But the expectations are high for him. He understands that; the expectations are high for all of us. So, we gotta put our nose back to the grind and get back to work."

Understandably, we've credited Texas' elite defense - not Manning - with some of those ranked wins. This season, Manning ranks outside the top 50 in passing yards per game among quarterbacks. His quarterback rating is ranked even lower than that.

With high-priced transfers in receiver Cam Coleman and running back Hollywood Smothers as weapons - as well as top home-grown talents like lineman Trevor Goosby and speedy wideout Ryan Wingo - it's easy to note how Sarkisian surrounded Manning with enough tools to be successful, to have all he'd need to rise to the standard his name demands.

His play hasn't met that assumption. Sure, a quarterback named Manning is held in higher regard than his peers, but generally, so is every other starting quarterback of the University of Texas, which, under Sarkisian, is "back" to being a national contender (and with enough spending to fuel generations' worth of winning, so it seems).

Manning, like the rest of us watching at home who admittedly do not have their face marred by dust and sweat and blood, felt that the Longhorns underperformed at Fair Park.

"I think we beat ourselves," Manning said in the postgame. "I can’t be loose with the ball."

His first mistake landed neatly in the arms of defensive back Peyton Morgan, who returned the pick for the first touchdown allowed off a Manning interception. Second, Manning stood in the pocket amid pressure and rushed a throw to the wrong side of his receiver, which set the Sooners up in position to kick the game-winning field goal.

The interceptions still told only part of the story. A blocked punt recovered in the end zone and a missed field goal on 4th-and-2 were earlier signs of all-around discombobulation.

"There’s a level of anger and frustration," Sarkisian said about the result.

And still, at 4-1, the Oklahoma loss likely serves as a counterbalance to the Ohio State win. With plenty of resume-building games to go in 2026, Texas has opportunities to reclaim its contention in the deep SEC and its CFP qualification.

"We’re not dead," said Sarkisian, whose Longhorns host the once-highly-ranked Florida Gators this weekend. "We’re going to be OK. We’ll get back up off the mat."

"Arch competed his tail off [against Oklahoma]," Sarkisian added. "The competitor in him, he’d love to have that back."

The current narrative on Texas' quarterback is neither "savior" nor "bust" during these recent errors (and just think, he could even come back for another year in 2027!).

But when (or if) his top form returns this season, our understanding - however cold and timid it may be - may have already separated Arch the player from Manning the name.