Texas coach Sarkisian keeps Arch Manning as starter despite ESPN report on KJ Lacey
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Arch Manning remains the starter for Saturday's game against No. 7 Ole Miss.
ESPN reported backup KJ Lacey would get more first-team reps, a sign the job could change.
Background
KJ Lacey Jr. is a redshirt sophomore quarterback for the Texas Longhorns, a four-star 2025 recruit from Saraland, Ala., who was named Alabama 'Mr. Football' and threw for 10,985 yards in high school. He is the backup behind Arch Manning, a second-year starter and fourth-year player whom an ESPN poll of NFL scouts ranked the No. 2 quarterback prospect entering the season. Texas is 5-2 after back-to-back losses to Oklahoma and Florida and has fallen from No. 1 to No. 19 in the AP poll, with Manning at 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. The question of whether Lacey should play more surfaced after that slide.
How it unfolded
- Sep 5, 2026Lacey entered in the second half of Texas' 59-7 season-opening win over Texas State after Manning threw for 305 yards and four touchdowns; Lacey was listed as QB2, having beaten out freshman Dia Bell and Coastal Carolina transfer MJ Morris.
- Oct 17, 2026Texas lost 27-24 to Florida at home in Austin; Manning was 14-of-20 for 173 yards and a touchdown with a fumble and zero rushing yards.
- Oct 19, 2026ESPN's Pete Thamel reported, citing unnamed sources, that Texas is expected to give Lacey an 'up-tick' in first-team practice reps this week, with Manning still projecting as the starter.
- Oct 19, 2026At his weekly news conference, Sarkisian said Manning 'is our starter' for Saturday's game against No. 7 Ole Miss at Royal-Memorial Stadium in Austin.
- Oct 20, 2026Yahoo Sports reported Sarkisian downplayed the ESPN report, saying he didn't necessarily expect Lacey to get more first-team reps than usual.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Sarkisian said Manning is the starter, that Lacey 'takes first-team reps every week,' and that he needs 'a better version of Arch Manning.'
- Analysts
- ESPN, citing unnamed sources, reported the added Lacey reps are 'a signal that Texas could replace Manning if he continues to struggle.'
- Caution
- Call News columnist argued there is a '99% chance' Sarkisian turns to Lacey this week, as early as Saturday at Ole Miss.
- Support
- Offensive lineman Brandon Baker called Lacey 'a smooth operator,' and defensive tackle Hero Kanu said 'KJ is dynamic' and can throw and run.
Still unverified
ESPN's report of increased first-team reps for Lacey cites unnamed sources, and Sarkisian disputed that Lacey would get more first-team reps than usual. Call News' '99% chance' that Sarkisian turns to Lacey is a columnist's prediction, not a reported fact.