Nick Saban shared a loaded statement on the state of Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning – one that was also a defense of his former offensive coordinator with the Alabama Crimson Tide, Steve Sarkisian.
Saban blamed Manning’s struggles thus far on mechanics. On one hand, that could be taken as a shot at the coaching staff for not finding that. But they don’t throw the ball during live-game action. Manning does.
Arch’s underwhelming performances against the Ohio State Buckeyes, San Jose State Spartans, and UTEP Miners weren’t play-calling failures, according to Saban.
“I think when things aren't going well for a player, you gotta go back to technical aspects of how you're trying to execute,” Saban said. “His mechanics are a little off. He's throwing more side arm than he was a year ago. His footwork is not always exactly right in terms of his accuracy. I think it affects your confidence a little bit, I think he's relying a little bit too much on running now rather than reading things out. What I would say to any player on our team that was struggling, you don't practice until you get it right, you practice until you can't get it wrong. That's what you gotta do so you create the right habits so you can play with great mechanics and good fundamentals.”
Texas Longhorns must get Arch Manning right before SEC play
Things get real for the Longhorns in the next two months, with very real chances to miss the College Football Playoff coming against the Florida Gators, Oklahoma Sooners, Vanderbilt Commodores, and Georgia Bulldogs. Split that series, and Texas is all of a sudden on the outside looking in.
Whether it’s Manning’s fault, Sarkisian’s fault, or QB coach A. J. Milwee’s fault, the Longhorns' coaching staff needs to come together and figure it out. Manning’s 2026 NFL draft dreams are probably off the table if he wants to be a top pick, but this is still a talent that could serve as an elite ambassador in the pros from the University of Texas at Austin. Someone needs to get this right before the 2027 draft rolls around.
If it’s mechanics, that’s an easy fix. If those mechanics are because of an undisclosed injury to Manning, perhaps he needs a rest.
The Quinn Ewers injury situation from a season ago is reason enough to be skeptical either way.