After win over Ole Miss, Texas QB Arch Manning says that he 'kind of likes being disregarded'
· Yahoo Sports
Arch Manning found himself in a bit of an unfamiliar role heading into No. 19 Texas' win over No. 7 Ole Miss.
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The Longhorns QB had struggled with untimely turnovers in Texas' losses to Oklahoma and Florida. Not long after the Florida game, ESPN reported that his backup, redshirt freshman KJ Lacey, would receive an increase in first-team reps.
After throwing two interceptions in the fourth quarter of the Oklahoma loss, Manning had fumbled on Texas' final drive against Florida. The Longhorns were near midfield with less than two minutes to go and needed a field goal for the tie or a touchdown to take the lead.
That loss led to a visit to his parents' house the next day.
"It was a hard Sunday, I went over to their place and damn near bawled, cried to them," Manning said.
It seemed farfetched that coach Steve Sarkisian would actually bench Manning. During the week, he noted that Manning was "edgy" and that he appreciated the shift in demeanor following the Longhorns' losses.
Save for having to exit for a mandatory medical check for one play in the second half, Manning played the entire game as Texas hung on in the second half for a 34-27 win over the Rebels despite blowing a 21-point halftime lead.
Manning scored the go-ahead touchdown and said after he game that he had embraced being in a different position.
"I've been hyped up all my life, preseason and all that stuff," Manning said after the game. "I think I kind of like being disregarded."
The victory over Ole Miss was a massive confidence boost for both team and quarterback. A loss to the Rebels would have put Texas on the brink of missing the College Football Playoff for the second time in Manning's two seasons as a starter.
But it's also not a sign that Texas is suddenly a national title contender again, either.
Manning turned the ball over three times. He threw two interceptions, including an incredibly ill-advised throw in the fourth quarter. He also fumbled on Texas' first possession of the second half thanks to pressure from the side of the offensive line that Trevor Goosby typically occupies. The star left tackle went down with a leg injury in the first half and had to be carted off the field.
Wide receiver Cam Coleman also suffered a shoulder injury in the second half. Sarkisian didn't have details about either player's injury, but noted that neither "looked very good."
Texas was already playing without star edge rusher Colin Simmons and running back Hollywood Smothers. The pass rush didn't sack Trinidad Chambliss, but it consistently got enough pressure through the middle to deflect passes. Chambliss completed fewer than 50% of his passing attempts for the first time in his Ole Miss career.
And now both the Rebels and Longhorns are tied in the middle of a messy SEC. As Georgia and Kentucky are the only teams in the conference with one league loss, eight teams — including Texas and Ole Miss — are tied with two losses and another four have three.