Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian recently revealed during a SEC Spring Meeting press conference that he can’t hide quarterback talent and future NFL prospect Arch Manning from all the hype going into his first season as a starter in 2026.
Steve Sarkisian Admits Texas Can’t Shield Arch Manning From Hype
Manning is one of the most hyped prospects in the College Football world right now, with College Football analyst Joel Klatt predicting he will fight for the spot as the number one quarterback in college football as the Longhorns look set for a national title charge.
Speaking at a SEC Spring Meeting press conference, Sarkisian discussed the suggested changes to the College Football playoff system going into 2025 and questioned whether he can keep Manning away from all the hype and scrutiny as he prepares to take the field.
“I don’t know if we’ll ever see an undefeated national champion again.” Sarkisian began when asked about the proposed changes to a 16-team playoff system.
“Do you have the depth to endure? So I think you’re going to see teams more and more now with two losses, three losses, maybe even four losses that get in.”
“This idea of somebody going 16-0 in college football, you can put up a statue somewhere of that team,” the Longhorns Head Coach concluded, going into how he believed his starting Quarterback would deal with all the hype next season.
“For Arch, part of his coming to the University of Texas is building that brand and getting some of that exposure. It’s a great platform for a guy like Arch. So it’s not all negative.” Sarkisian explained,
Manning already came into Texas with a brand, as a legacy quarterback, and with two all-time great quarterbacks in the family, Eli and Peyton Manning.
Steve Sarkisian Reveals Why Texas Added Another QB Behind Arch Manning
Despite having full faith in Manning and the hype surrounding him going into 2026, Sarkisian also made a move to further solidify his Quarterback room, adding an experienced Quarterback to the roster in Matthew Caldwell.
“We were sitting there with Arch as our starter, and Trey and KJ as two young guys who hadn’t played. We just felt like adding an experienced guy—if Arch’s shoe comes off—was probably the best thing for our team.” Sarkisian explained to Inside Texas.
Caldwell threw last season for 1,600 passing yards and 13 touchdowns in his 2024 season at Troy, the former Troy Quarterback brings a host of experience to a Quarterback room that has next to none.
Sarkisian also has Trey Owens and KJ Lacey on his roster. However, neither of them has seen any significant snaps in College Football. With the Longhorn’s head coach commenting on depth being a necessity when hunting a National Championship, the signing of Matthew Caldwell makes perfect sense.
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Texas is set to begin its hunt for the National Title with an opening game against Ohio State to kick off the season, a clash of titans between the two favorites for the NCAA Championship next season, with the Buckeyes looking to go back-to-back.
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