This season, Texas keeps hitting lows we didn’t think could touch the program. But Steve Sarkisian is yet to throw Arch Manning some deserved blame. The QB has been everything but productive so far, with only flashes of his highly touted skill coming through. Texas walked away with a win against Kentucky last week, but that doesn’t mean the problems are over. Sarkisian refuses to adopt a new perspective for the remainder of the season.

In a recent presser, the Texas HC put his foot down on him relinquishing his playcalling duties. “That’s why I got hired. I was a really good offensive coordinator,” he said. “I’m always going to tap into the strengths that I have, and I think being a play-caller on offense is one of my strengths. Some may disagree. That’s okay.” Man, do people disagree with that claim. The Kentucky game is a textbook representation of their complaints against the HC and his offense.

Arch Manning’s standards have become so poor that fans are surprised when he does have a good day. The QB was only 12 of 27 in passes against the Wildcats, and went scoreless. An equally disappointing O-line gave away 7 quarterback hurries and allowed Kentucky to sack Manning 3 times. The offense could only cover 179 yards – the lowest Sarkisian’s strength has ever hauled in during his tenure at Texas.

The run game, throughout the season, has been on a backseat. Texas has the least rushing yards in the SEC now – quite an anticlimactic result for a team that was expected to win the National Championship.

It’s so bad that Arch Manning has the second-highest rushing yards in the unit, behind Quintrevion Wisner. Yet, the QB is all for Sarkisian as play caller. “I have the utmost faith in him. That’s the reason why I came here,” he told the press on Monday.

All these numbers come from a coach who built stellar offenses in the past. People are not calling for him to be fired as loudly as they are for others. But they sure do want to see Sarkisian attack the offense and transform it to one that makes it seem like his. They suggested that he ditch his star QB first for that process.

Fans want Steve Sarkisian to look at other options besides Arch Manning

“Sark has his issues as play caller but what play caller wouldn’t look bad with Arch Manning as their QB??” one fan sounded away online. Sarkisian looked unbeatable before the season, simply because he had Arch Manning in his arsenal. And now, he’s become a huge reason why the HC has to go through this sea of hate.

After Week 8, Manning’s QBR stands at 58.6 – the 75th best in the country. “It’s not his fault Arch sucks,” echoed another.

“Arch just isn’t good…I remember Sark calling plays for Alabama when they won it all with Mac Jones and Devonta They were putting up 40+ points a game… Arch just isn’t it right now.”

This season, Sarkisian is yet to reach the 30-point mark against Power 4 teams. The reputation he earned during his stint at Alabama seems to have parted ways with him this year. Because this is simply not what defines Sarkisian. And the Manning effect has taken a wrong turn for him as well.

“He doesn’t trust his Oline and probably shouldn’t. But Arch has to be much better for sure,” another fan commented. The O-line, which protects Steve Sarkisian’s most prized possession, was of little use against Kentucky.

It averaged only 1.7 yards per rushing attempt. The trenches were so bad that it had former Longhorn Malik Jefferson tweet a desperate “O line please block” on X. Arch Manning, of course, was just as bad.

The QB’s turnout this season has begged the question of Sarkisian benching him to let the others have a shot. But the HC, who has continued to defend the QB, still lets him off the hook.

Fans have quite simply had enough of Manning. “Get a better QB. Simple,” one shared. Another was excited to see an outsider replace the QB next year. “Sark hitting portal for a QB would really spice things up,” they shared on X.