Arch Manning needs a hug.
This video created with the assistance of AI.
And a win at Tennessee.
The face of the Texas Longhorns hasn’t had a month like this one yet, but he would be well served to take a bit of personal inventory.
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He’s a millionaire many times over at the tender age of 22. He’s arguably the most recognizable college football player in America. He’s starting for the No. 1-ranked team in the country and just authored a win over previously top-ranked Ohio State two weeks ago.
But Manning is clearly unhappy. The spotlight on Texas’ QB1 was magnified after an unfortunate comment on an edited AI video of his coach Steve Sarkisian and ESPN’s Holly Rowe went viral after the Ohio State win. He handled the situation in professional manner, but his 16-of-32, 161-yard, two-touchdown performance in last Saturday’s 30-6 win over UTSA led to his brief postgame media interview where Manning, visibly upset with his performance, gave mostly mono-syllabic answers.
It got worse Monday.
Over the course of two interviews, Manning used only 1 minute, 16 seconds to answer 24 questions. That’s an average of just 3.1 seconds per answer. The term “awkward” doesn’t begin to describe the feeling in that room Monday. It was like getting an appendectomy without the anesthesia.
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Manning is fortunate to have a great support system in his family and coaches, but they won’t be able to accompany him onto the field Saturday morning at Neyland Stadium, where 100,000 title-starved Volunteers fans will be out for blood. He’s smart enough to know he can’t beat No. 14 Tennessee all by himself, and that’s where he should do another inventory:
• Sarkisian has surrounded him with a bevy of play-makers on both sides of the ball, including high-flying wideouts Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo.
• Texas’ veteran offensive line has graded out pretty well in two of the three wins.
• He has shown the ability to rise to the occasion and the team he’s facing Saturday isn’t as good as Ohio State.
So get it done, QB1.
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The greatest cure for the quarterback blahs is a nice, fat, 250-yard, three-touchdown performance in a win to go to 4-0. I expect Manning will tighten up that belt and go grip it and rip it.
“Just go play, man,” said Sarkisian, who called Arch one of the two most-prepared quarterbacks he has ever coached, along with former NFL MVP Matt Ryan. “Go be you. You can’t try to be something you’re not.”
That’s sage advice from someone who played the position at a high level.
In case you’re wondering, Manning is 2-3 in true road games as a starter. He has completed 57.7% of his passes with seven touchdowns and five interceptions. He has to play a more even brand of ball to get this dub.
Texas DC Will Muschamp vs. Tennesee QB Faizon Brandon
The airlines don’t charge for a carry-on when it comes to great defense. It travels for free and if the Horns continue to get stops like they have over the last six quarters where Ohio State and UTSA have scored a scant nine points, Manning won’t have to be a hero.
Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp seeks to confuse, confound and attack when it comes to dealing with opposing quarterbacks, especially young ones. Tennessee freshman Faizon Brandon will be subjected to a variety of exotic looks designed to mask what’s really coming. In most cases, it will be the blitz.
Brandon, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound former five-star recruit from Greensboro, N.C., has done a terrific job of taking care of the ball with six touchdowns and no interceptions through the first three games. Vols coach Josh Heupel has a reputation as a gun-slinging play-caller who prefers the vertical game, but he has shown more of a West Coast offense tendency with this young quarterback. Still, Brandon hasn’t thrown a pick in the first three games, but the Vols rank last in the SEC with just 22 passing plays of 10 or more yards.
Brandon can move, but expect plenty of heat to come his way. Texas edge rusher Colin Simmons will be available after he missed the second half of the UTSA game with a foot injury that Sark called precautionary.
Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed, Aggies at a crossroads
Gut-checks don’t usually occur this early into the season, but after Texas A&M was spanked at home by Kentucky, Saturday’s prime-time matchup at LSU qualifies. Shoot, the same can be said about both sides since the Tigers and coach Lane Kiffin came back from Ole Miss on the business end of a 32-24 loss.
Aggies coach Mike Elko is a straight shooter – always has been – but one has to wonder how patient he will be with star quarterback Marcel Reed, who has thrown seven touchdowns and nine interceptions in his last five games against Power Four opponents dating back to last season.
Like Manning, Reed is a perfectionist and while admirable, that puts a lot of pressure on him to perform. He missed on some key throws in the 31-21 home loss to Kentucky and the defense didn’t do him many favors by giving up a 28-0 run in the middle two quarters.
“I’ve been trying to get him unlocked and unhinged and relaxed,” Elko told reporters this week. “I think that’s why he plays better in (the two-minute offense) because he can (play with the) back-against the wall type mentality and he can just relax. But I’ve got to get him mentally to a place where he can really cut it loose and feel free and play. I think that more than anything right now is the issue with him.”
A second loss would place the Aggies in dire straits with games still remaining against ranked teams Missouri, Alabama, Tennessee and Texas.
Bonus Nuggets
Colorado coach Deion Sanders put his program first when he removed several players from the roster for what he termed conduct detrimental to the team. Some Buffs players were seen laughing after an embarrassing 41-7 loss at Northwestern – the same day news circulated of players criticizing Northwestern’s temporary stadium. … Georgia has opened as a 14-point favorite at home over unranked Oklahoma, the worst offense in the SEC. I see the Dawgs winning by 21.
This article originally published at Best cure for what’s got Texas QB Arch Manning so quiet? A loud win at Tennessee | Golden.
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