Texas fans slam Steve Sarkisian’s decision: Why isn’t Arch Manning playing?

The Longhorns head coach kept Quinn Ewers as his starting quarterback.

The Texas Longhorns may have secured a 20-10 victory over the unranked Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday, but not everyone was thrilled. Fans lit up social media, blasting head coach Steve Sarkisian for sticking with struggling starting quarterback Quinn Ewers while keeping backup Arch Manning on the bench.

The tension peaked in the fourth quarter when Arkansas pulled within three points, making it a nail-biting 13-10 game. Ewers and the Texas offense had looked stagnant for much of the contest, prompting fans to demand a change.

Why is Arch Manning not playing?” one fan tweeted in frustration. “Texas needs to bring in Arch Manning to seal this game!” echoed another. Calls for the freshman phenom, whose family name carries a legacy of NFL greatness, grew louder as the game dragged on.

Ewers responded to Sarkisian’s trust

Despite the criticism, Ewers finished with a respectable stat line, completing 20 of 32 passes for 176 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. His performance ultimately led the Longhorns to their ninth win of the season, but for fans, it wasn’t enough to silence questions about Sarkisian’s decision-making.

The clamor for Manning, one of the most hyped recruits in recent memory, isn’t new. Though he’s only appeared in seven college games, his pedigree and potential have already sparked rumors of an eventual NFL career.

With teams like the Los Angeles Rams, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and New Orleans Saints reportedly keeping an eye on his progress, the stakes are high for both Manning and Texas.

Sarkisian’s fate may depend on Ewers’ arm

For now, Sarkisian seems intent on sticking with Ewers as the Longhorns eye the finish line of their regular season with tough matchups against Kentucky and Texas A&M. However, the pressure is mounting.

If Texas falters in its quest for a national championship, fans may not be so forgiving of the coach’s decision to leave Manning sidelined.

One thing is clear: the calls for Arch Manning aren’t going away anytime soon.