Arch Manning Set to Start for No. 19 Texas Against No. 7 Ole Miss Amid Lineup Doubts

Texas starter Arch Manning is set to lead No. 19 Texas against No. 7 Mississippi on Saturday, even as the Longhorns (4-2) prepare to give backup KJ Lacey Jr. more first-team practice reps this week. Texas has lost two straight games, to unranked SEC opponents Oklahoma and Florida, and Manning threw two interceptions against Oklahoma. The team has fallen from No. 1 to No. 19 in the AP Poll over the past two weeks. Coach Steve Sarkisian has backed his second-year quarterback, and Manning said he plans to play aggressively against Ole Miss. Each of Manning's last two games has ended with a turnover on the final drive.

Right-leaning outlets lead with analyst Paul Finebaum's criticism of Sarkisian, and the New York Post reports his comments calling the situation embarrassing and blaming the coach for Manning's struggles. The Washington Times opens instead with Manning's family history and his vow to play aggressively. Left-leaning coverage, led by The Washington Post, likewise centers on Manning's family ties to Ole Miss, where his grandfather Archie Manning was a Hall of Fame quarterback. Alternative outlets emphasize the stakes: an ESPN column calls it now or never for Sarkisian and Manning, while Awful Announcing's podcast with Finebaum covers Manning's NFL future and whether Texas should bench him.