Well, it looks like the other shoe is just millimeters from dropping, and it feels like the Texas Longhorns are just inches from benching starting quarterback Arch Manning to give backup Karle "KJ" Lacey Jr. a chance at QB1.
On Monday morning, after the Horns suffered their second straight loss, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that Texas was "expected to give an up-tick in first-team quarterback reps" to Lacey, but was still expected to start Manning on Saturday for the time being.
Sources: Texas is expected to give an up-tick in first-team quarterback reps to redshirt freshman KJ Lacey Jr. this week in practice. Arch Manning still projects as the Texas starter. The uptick in Lacey’s reps is a signal that Texas could replace Manning if he continues to… pic.twitter.com/OPOQQy0dcE
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 19, 2026
After losing to Florida in Week 7, head coach Steve Sarkisian admitted that he had to reevaluate everything on the offensive side of the ball, and many took that to mean Manning's starting job was at risk.
However, with how strictly Sarkisian has stuck by his starting quarterbacks in the past, many were hesitant to believe that he would actually bench Manning in favor of one of the backup QBs.
Now, the belief that Texas could have a different quarterback running the offense in Week 8 is at an all-time high.
Steve Sarkisian could finally be abandoning his stringent QB1 loyalty
Obviously, Lacey could fall short of where Sarkisian and the rest of the staff need him to perform at during practices this week, and it could cement Manning's job as the Horns' starter. However, with how lost Manning has looked in the backfield over the last two weeks, it may not take much for Lacey to step into that QB1 role.
Lacey was a four-star prospect in the class of 2025, but has unsurprisingly seen minimal playing time with Manning starting over the last season and a half.
However, over the last two years, he has earned his place as Texas's QB2, maintaining his spot on the depth chart even after Sarkisian brought in five-star quarterback Dia Bell from the class of 2026.
In his three appearances so far, Lacey has completed nearly 89% of his pass attempts, earning 70 passing yards on eight completions. He has earned an additional three yards on just two carries, but has yet to be sacked in his collegiate career.
Manning's fourth-quarter turnovers have led to two straight losses to unranked opponents for the Longhorns, and it seems like even Sarkisian has reached the end of his patience for the guy he virtually named as the starter from the moment he committed to Texas.
For now, Manning is projected as the Horns' starter as Texas takes on the Ole Miss Rebels in Week 8, but it truly looks like things have reached a boiling point on the 40 Acres.
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