Oh no! Another day, another quarterback drama. Texas Longhorns fans might be wondering ‘Why Steve, WHY?’ The No.5 seed Steve Sarkisian’s Longhorns faced off against No.12 seed Clemson Tigers in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Before the playoff, Sarkisian seemed to be in a big dilemma. Quinn Ewers or Arch Manning, who would start in the playoffs?

The fans were somehow convinced that it was going to be Ewers. But again, Ewers fell prey to injuries and battled with inconsistency. That’s when Sarkisian made the impossible possible. The Longhorns HC went straight away with Manning for the big game. Did that sit well with the fans? The latest member of the Manning legacy has become a joke now. 

Days before the college football playoffs, speculations surrounding Sarkisian’s program have taken momentum. We know how Ewers went to a backseat after returning from his oblique injury. Ever since then, the QB has turned the ball over seven times through interceptions over eight games. But Sarkisian, being Sarkisian, kept on proving his loyalty to Ewers. And from this, he never thought of using Manning.

But on December 21, Sarkisian thought of experimenting with Manning. And guess what? The Texas HC called for Manning’s number with 1:45 remaining in the fourth quarter. As analyst Stan Lanning stated, “I don’t understand all the 2025 Heisman hype for Arch Manning. I have not seen him in his limited playing time, look even remotely like a top QB in CFB.” 

It was not at all expected from Sarkisian. The Texas HC brought Manning during the first quarter on a 3rd and short and had him hand off for a run up the middle. Well, totally not worth it. Already struggling with his foot speed, Sarkisian shouldn’t have used the 19-year-old for short-yardage packages. Manning ran three times for 0 yards against the Clemson Tigers. The Texas HC should have listened to the former quarterback and current ESPN broadcaster Greg McElroy.

The analyst commented on the Ewers-Manning hoopla comparing said calls to a famous scene from the 2004 film Mean Girls. So, to him, it is too early to “make Manning happen.” Helpful much? Sadly, it’s too late, and he now has to pay the price. 

Fans upset with Steve Sarkisian’s Arch Manning plan backfiring 

Well, no matter what, we know Ewers is the far more experienced QB here. After all, he has been the one who led Sarkisian’s program to last season’s Big 12 title. Plus, he stood as a strong pillar when it came to the Longhorns’ CFP appearances. It’s high time that Sarkisian realizes that experimenting in the college football playoff has been a thunder blunder. If not, a fan gave him a reality check and commented, “The Arch Manning plays aren’t working.”

What might have played in the Texas HC’s mind before trying his luck with Ewers? Well, we don’t know exactly what happened. But maybe Ewers coming into the game on fourth down and scoring an unreal touchdown against Texas A&M gave some kind of hope. Turned out that stunt is not going to work every time, as a fan commented, “does the arch manning 4th down gimmick literally ever work for Texas? Like why man.”

Ewers has spent years now on center stage; that’s why it would have been safe for Sarkisian to use Ewers and not Manning. That’s why he now has to bear the consequences: “Arch Manning may have just cost some people.”

Manning going backward on the play and fumble, added to Steve Sarkisian’s woes, “Arch Manning probably just fu-ked Texas’ cover 😆.” Another fan thought of sprinkling some salt on Arch Manning’s wounds, pointing fingers at the rich legacy he carries. “Here comes the Arch hate….oh wait we don’t do that his last name is Manning 🤣🤣.” Now the Texas HC better find Arch Manning a spot to hide!