Texas coach defends Arch Manning after costly loss to Oklahoma

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 12 Oct, 22:37 · Archive

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian defended quarterback Arch Manning after two fourth-quarter interceptions in Saturday's 27-24 loss to unranked Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry clash. One interception was returned for a touchdown that put Oklahoma ahead, and the other set up the Sooners' game-winning field goal.

Sarkisian argued that expectations around Manning are shaped by his famous surname. 'I think if you took the name off the back of his jersey and said here's Joe Smith playing quarterback at the University of Texas and here's a guy who's beaten four top-10 ranked teams in his last 13 starts, we'd be praising the guy,' Sarkisian said Monday. He acknowledged that 'the expectations are high for [Manning], and he understands that.'

The junior signal-caller has completed 63.0 per cent of his pass attempts this season for 1,122 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions in five games. Sarkisian added that he thought Manning 'played pretty good up until that point' in the fourth quarter but noted 'that's the level of consistency that's needed'. He said Manning has shown he 'can be really good in critical moments' in previous games against Ohio State and Tennessee.

How it is being reported

• Steve Sarkisian offers ‘Joe Smith’ defense of Arch Manning after Texas’ crushing lossTexas coach Steve Sarkisian is unsurprisingly rushing to the defense of the heavily scrutinized quarterbacking scion.New York Post · 12 Oct, 22:19
• Steve Sarkisian’s ‘Joe Smith’ argument for Arch Manning is absolute nonsense for an average QBArch Manning's inconsistency at Texas raises real questions about whether Steve Sarkisian would have benched a lesser-known quarterback by now.Fox News · 12 Oct, 21:24

In this story: Arch Manning · Steve Sarkisian · Texas · Oklahoma · Peyton Manning · Eli Manning

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