The ghosts of Arch Manning’s disappointing season seemed to disappear the moment Texas took the field against Texas State, defeating them 59-7. The Longhorns’ young quarterback was in command with four passing touchdowns. Still, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith has brought a ghost of the past to the celebration, delivering a warning to Manning and head coach Steve Sarkisian.

“Last year there was a dereliction of duty. People don’t talk about this enough, guys. He [snorts] was more rattled coaching Arch Manning than Arch Manning was rattled quarterbacking the team because everybody walked in with these expectations, and he was so protective of Arch Manning that I’m making the accusation that he was negligent with other facets of the football team,” said Smith in his conversation on ESPN First Take.

Stephen A. Smith went further into the conversation, expressing that while the expectations surrounding Manning are still high, head coach Steve Sarkisian will have to prove his worth as a leader this year, especially against their upcoming opponent, the Ohio State Buckeyes.

“But I’m telling you, Steve Sarkisian’s got some stuff to prove. He’s got some stuff to prove before I’m able to sit up there and say we should be more confident in Texas than Ohio State,” Stephen added.

This is not just another early-season game on the calendar. Texas comes into this matchup ranked number 4 in the nation, while Ohio State holds the top spot at number 1. For both teams, this game acts as an early College Football Playoff knockout round.

A win gives Texas full control of its championship dreams, but a loss puts it under instant pressure for the rest of the year. That is why Stephen A. Smith’s harsh words hit so hard. The stakes in Austin are sky-high, and there is zero margin for error when two top-five powerhouses clash this early.

Smith has one piece of advice for the head coach: stop treating Arch Manning like a baby and make sure he faces the real threats of the game. Smith made a similar statement back in July as well, when he said, “If you believe that much in Arch Manning, then don’t baby him. Don’t pacify him.”

While the Longhorns certainly made a statement with their 59-7 victory over Texas State, there were some pain points from the game as well, especially surrounding Arch Manning. The young QB threw a costly interception right before halftime, though it didn’t hurt against Texas State.

When you look back at last year’s 14-7 loss in Columbus, a clear pattern shows up in Arch Manning’s game. Ohio State’s defense, which finished at the top of national rankings, did not let Manning get comfortable in the pocket. They used disguised coverage looks that forced him into taking rushed check-downs and making late decisions, leading to that costly interception.

Even against Texas State last week, throwing an interception right before halftime showed that he still tends to force passes under pressure. If Sarkisian does not prepare him to read those heavy defensive blitzes quickly, Ohio State will use the exact same playbook to break down the young quarterback once again.

Interestingly, Paul Finebaum still has faith in Arch Manning. During his appearance on ‘Get Up,’ he revealed that he had spoken with Steve Sarkisian, and according to the head coach, Manning is doing fine in training.

“I hate to come down on Arch, but he has to have a monster game because that game last year still shadows him a little bit,” Finebaum said. ” Steve Sarkisian told me a couple of months ago that game probably helped Arch Manning more than any other game.”

The insider, however, added that if Manning were to lose his matchup against Ohio State, it would be really bad for both him and the head coach.

The young QB will have a chance to prove everyone wrong on September 12, when Ohio State visits Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium. Will Manning finally get his revenge, or will there be another upset?