Texas Gives KJ Lacey More Reps as Arch Manning Struggles

The Texas Longhorns are expected to increase redshirt freshman quarterback KJ Lacey Jr.’s first-team practice reps this week as questions grow about Arch Manning‘s performances, according to ESPN sources. Although Manning remains projected to start, the adjustment signals that Texas could be preparing to give Lacey a greater opportunity if the offense continues to struggle.

The development comes at a critical point in Texas’ season. The No. 19 Longhorns are preparing to host No. 7 Ole Miss on Saturday after suffering consecutive defeats against Oklahoma and Florida. With the team looking to get its campaign back on track, head coach Steve Sarkisian faces increasing pressure to evaluate the offense and determine whether changes at quarterback are necessary.

Manning is still expected to lead the Longhorns into their next game, but Lacey’s increased involvement in practice could make him a more realistic option during Saturday’s matchup. The shift does not confirm that Texas plans to replace Manning, but it suggests the coaching staff wants to prepare an alternative as it assesses the team’s recent offensive problems.

Texas Increases KJ Lacey Jr.’s First-Team Practice Reps

According to ESPN sources, Texas plans to give Lacey more first-team quarterback repetitions during practice this week. The move comes as the coaching staff evaluates Manning following two disappointing performances that contributed to the Longhorns’ back-to-back losses.

First-team practice reps are important because they allow a quarterback to work with the offense’s primary personnel and prepare for the situations he could encounter during a game. Giving Lacey additional opportunities with the starting unit could help Texas assess his readiness to contribute if Manning struggles against Ole Miss.

For now, Manning remains the projected starter. However, the increased practice workload for Lacey suggests that the possibility of a quarterback change is becoming more significant than it was earlier in the season.

The timing is particularly notable because Texas is preparing to face one of its toughest opponents of the season. Ole Miss enters the matchup ranked No. 7, while Texas is ranked No. 19. With the Longhorns attempting to respond to consecutive losses, their quarterback situation is likely to receive considerable attention throughout the week.

Any decision to turn to Lacey would represent a significant development for a Texas team that entered the season with high expectations surrounding Manning. The coaching staff must balance the need to improve the offense immediately with the importance of giving its starting quarterback an opportunity to respond.

Arch Manning’s Recent Struggles Put Him Under Pressure

Manning entered the 2026 season as one of the most closely watched quarterbacks in College Football. His name recognition, physical tools and reputation as an NFL prospect helped make him one of the central figures in discussions surrounding Texas and the national championship race.

However, the Longhorns’ recent results have raised questions about his consistency. Texas lost to Oklahoma before suffering another defeat against Florida, leaving the team with a 5-2 record.

Against Oklahoma, Manning threw two crucial interceptions in the fourth quarter. Those turnovers proved costly as Texas failed to secure the victory, intensifying scrutiny of his decision-making in high-pressure situations.

His performance against Florida also drew attention, although the passing numbers alone did not tell the entire story. Manning completed 14 of 20 attempts for 173 yards, but he fumbled in the final two minutes, allowing Florida to complete its comeback and secure the win.

The turnover added to concerns about Texas’ ability to execute when games are on the line. While Manning has shown promise during his time with the Longhorns, the recent mistakes have created questions about whether he can consistently deliver the performances expected of a quarterback leading a highly ranked program.

With another challenging game approaching, Texas will need greater efficiency and better ball security. The increased practice reps for Lacey give the coaching staff an additional option as it works to address those issues.

Steve Sarkisian Says Texas Will “Evaluate Everything”

Following the loss to Florida, Sarkisian made it clear that Texas would conduct a comprehensive evaluation of its performance. His comments suggested that the coaching staff was prepared to examine multiple areas of the team rather than focusing exclusively on Manning.

When asked specifically about the quarterback, Sarkisian reinforced the breadth of the evaluation by saying that “everything means everything.” The remark attracted attention because it left open the possibility of changes at several positions, including quarterback.

Sarkisian also discussed Manning’s decision-making on the late fumble against Florida. According to the coach, the play appeared to offer an opportunity to complete a pass to an open receiver, but Manning may not have identified the option quickly enough.

“I think on that play, our protection might’ve been OK,” Sarkisian said. “I think [Manning] might have been a little quick to kind of drop his eyes. He had Emmett Mosley, who’s the primary [receiver]. We thought the ball could have got out.”

The comments indicated that Sarkisian believed the offense had an opportunity to make a successful play. His assessment focused on Manning’s progression through the play and whether he recognized the intended receiver before the situation deteriorated.

However, Sarkisian also acknowledged that the offensive problems extended beyond the quarterback. He noted that “nobody was perfect” on offense, pointing to the need for improvement throughout the unit.

That distinction is important because Texas’ struggles have not been limited to Manning’s turnovers. The offensive line and running game have also experienced difficulties, making the challenge more complicated than simply deciding whether to change quarterbacks.

Texas’ Offensive Problems Extend Beyond the Quarterback

Although Manning’s recent mistakes have drawn significant attention, Texas has struggled to establish consistency across its offense. The offensive line has faced challenges, while the running game has produced disappointing numbers relative to the team’s ambitions.

According to the supplied report, Texas ranks near the bottom of the SEC in rushing production, averaging 135.0 rushing yards per game and 3.6 yards per carry. Those figures place the Longhorns 13th in the conference in both categories.

A struggling ground game can place additional pressure on a quarterback by making the offense more predictable and reducing its ability to control the pace of a contest. When a team cannot consistently generate yards on the ground, it may have to rely more heavily on its passing attack to sustain drives and create scoring opportunities.

For Manning, that environment can make mistakes particularly costly. Turnovers can erase promising possessions and give opponents opportunities to take control, as Texas experienced against Oklahoma and Florida.

At the same time, replacing the quarterback would not automatically resolve the problems affecting the offensive line or running game. Any changes must account for the broader performance of the unit, and the coaching staff will need to determine how best to improve execution against Ole Miss.

Sarkisian’s comments suggest that Texas is evaluating the entire offense as it prepares for Saturday. Lacey’s increased first-team reps are one visible part of that process, but they do not necessarily indicate that Manning is solely responsible for the team’s recent setbacks.

Arch Manning’s Numbers Under the Spotlight

Manning began the season with substantial expectations. An ESPN poll of NFL scouts ranked him as the No. 2 quarterback prospect in college football, reinforcing the belief that he possessed the talent to become one of the sport’s leading players.

His performances so far, however, have been inconsistent. Manning ranks 10th in the SEC in completion percentage at 63.9%, according to the supplied report. He has thrown 11 touchdown passes, placing him ninth in the conference, while also recording five interceptions.

The numbers show a quarterback who has produced scoring plays but has also made mistakes that have affected his team’s results. For a program competing against highly ranked opponents, the ability to protect the football and make sound decisions in critical situations can be just as important as generating passing yards and touchdowns.

Manning’s recent performances have therefore placed him at a pivotal point in his season. He still has an opportunity to respond and demonstrate that he can lead Texas through a difficult stretch, but the increased workload for Lacey indicates that the coaching staff is preparing for alternative possibilities.

Whether Manning can regain consistency against Ole Miss could have implications for both the team’s immediate prospects and the quarterback competition moving forward.

Who Is KJ Lacey Jr.?

Lacey is a redshirt freshman quarterback whose opportunity to receive more first-team reps comes amid the increased scrutiny surrounding Manning. Although he has limited college experience, his passing background and potential have made him an intriguing option for Texas.

According to the supplied report, Lacey has attempted just nine passes during his college career. That limited sample means there is relatively little game evidence available to determine how he would perform if asked to take on a larger role against a highly ranked opponent.

Nevertheless, Sarkisian has previously spoken positively about the young quarterback’s qualities. During SEC media days, the Texas coach compared aspects of Lacey’s game to those of Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young.

“A lot of qualities that remind me of [Carolina Panthers quarterback] Bryce Young,” Sarkisian said of Lacey.

The comparison points to the traits Sarkisian sees in Lacey, although it does not guarantee that the freshman will immediately reproduce the level of performance associated with Young. Lacey remains a developing player who would need to demonstrate his readiness in Texas’ offensive system.

Lacey is listed at 6 feet tall and 188 pounds. Before joining the Longhorns, he built an impressive high school passing record, finishing as the No. 2 high school passer in Alabama history with 10,985 passing yards.

His high school production suggests that he has experience operating a passing offense and generating substantial yardage. However, the transition to college football presents a different challenge, particularly when the opponent is a ranked team and the game carries significant pressure.

The increased practice reps should give Texas a better opportunity to evaluate Lacey’s command of the offense, his decision-making and his ability to work with the first-team personnel.

Texas Faces a Crucial Test Against No. 7 Ole Miss

The Longhorns’ upcoming game against Ole Miss arrives at a critical time. Texas has already recorded two notable victories, defeating Ohio State at home and winning on the road against Tennessee, which was ranked No. 11 in the supplied report.

Those results demonstrate that the Longhorns have the ability to compete against high-level opposition. However, the consecutive defeats to Oklahoma and Florida have complicated their season and increased the importance of their next performance.

Ole Miss, ranked No. 7, will provide another demanding test. Texas will need to protect the football, improve its offensive execution and find ways to sustain drives if it hopes to return to winning form.

The quarterback situation will be one of the main storylines leading into the matchup. Manning remains the expected starter, but Lacey’s increased first-team reps could make it easier for the coaching staff to turn to the redshirt freshman if circumstances require a change.

For now, the reports do not confirm that Texas intends to bench Manning. Instead, the adjustment indicates that Sarkisian and his staff are exploring their options while evaluating what went wrong in the team’s recent losses.

Will Texas Make a Quarterback Change?

The decision to give Lacey more first-team work does not automatically mean Manning has lost his starting position. Coaches often use practice repetitions to prepare backup quarterbacks and assess their readiness, particularly when a team’s offense is struggling.

However, the timing of this adjustment makes it noteworthy. Manning’s costly interceptions against Oklahoma and his late fumble against Florida have put his recent performances under scrutiny, while Sarkisian’s comments about evaluating everything have left open the possibility of personnel changes.

Lacey’s limited college experience remains an important consideration. With only nine career pass attempts, he has not yet demonstrated over an extended period that he can handle the demands of leading Texas against elite competition.

At the same time, the additional practice opportunities could help the coaching staff determine whether he is ready for a more prominent role. If Manning struggles again, Texas may have to decide whether to remain patient with its projected starter or give Lacey a chance to change the team’s momentum.

Ultimately, the Longhorns’ approach will depend on what the coaches see during practice and how they assess the team’s needs ahead of Saturday’s game. Manning still has an opportunity to strengthen his position with an improved performance, while Lacey will be looking to make the most of his increased involvement.

With Texas seeking a response after two consecutive defeats, the quarterback situation has become one of the biggest questions surrounding the program. The Longhorns have the talent to compete with top-ranked teams, but their next steps at quarterback could prove crucial as they attempt to regain consistency and get their season back on track.