Arch Manning is a Texas problem, and Steve Sarkisian is last to see it

Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian is finally acknowledging the problems he has with quarterback Arch Manning, even if he's reluctant to admit it. After a 27-24 loss to Florida, where Manning's late fumble sealed the defeat, Sarkisian began shifting blame onto his quarterback. The Florida backup, Tramell Jones Jr., outplayed Manning in the game. Sarkisian admitted that some of his team's issues stem from a "mentality issue," particularly after their juvenile antics during a narrow win at Tennessee.

Sarkisian can see that Manning may need to be moved on from, and he's not being vague about it, saying that "everything is going to be evaluated" after Texas suffered a second consecutive loss. The coach realizes that the quarterback could drag his coaching career down, especially if Manning continues to perform at an average level.

However, Sarkisian lacks magic-wand solutions and doesn't have a backup quarterback with the experience to take over the position. The third-stringer, Dia Bell, is still a freshman and hasn't appeared in a game yet.

Texas' best shot at the playoff might still be with Manning, but the coach can't allow him to return as the starter next season. Manning's performance doesn't suggest he's ready for the NFL, but he might get a shot in the league if he decides to leave Texas. If he does, it would give Texas an out and allow them to rebuild their offense with someone else.

However, what if Manning decides he could benefit from a fifth college season? In that case, Sarkisian would need to encourage Manning to join the transfer portal. If he brings Manning back as the starter next season, Sarkisian would be betting his future on a quarterback who hasn't earned that trust. Sarkisian's buyout is over $50 million, and if Texas misses the playoffs, there will be pressure on the coach.

The smarter move might be to force Sarkisian to give up his play-calling duties and give this one more go in 2027, which would force him to question whether he can trust Manning with his job next season. If the answer is no, then Sarkisian is simply coaching for the buyout.