Arch Manning Gets Sobering Message Ahead of Red River Rivalry

The Red River Rivalry returns to the Cotton Bowl this Saturday, as the No. 1 Texas Longhorns face off against the Oklahoma Sooners in one of the most significant college football games of the season. Oklahoma sits at 2-2, while Texas is undefeated; however, questions remain about whether the Longhorns can secure a national championship with quarterback Arch Manning under center.

Josh Pate made this sentiment clear on Thursday’s episode of "Get Up," stating, "No, they can’t." While Texas is currently ranked No. 1, Pate argues that being a top team in early October does not necessarily equate to being championship caliber, as a stronger defense will eventually come into play. The Longhorns have already acquired several wide receiver weapons in the transfer portal, which they hope will bolster their offense down the road.

However, the team has had time off since their last win, and they face a challenging schedule ahead, including multiple ranked SEC opponents. Despite Manning's lackluster passing stats this season, Texas has managed to win games without him, with noteworthy victories against Ohio State and Tennessee. The team has bolstered their offensive line and added new pieces, including transfer wideout Cam Coleman and running backs Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown, but the offense still needs improvement to make a significant impact.