In 2024, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian stood at a crossroads—one that could define his legacy. On one side, the dream of a College Football Playoff run. On the other, the future of the Texas Longhorns, waiting patiently on the bench in the form of a generational talent.
The safe play? Roll with Quinn Ewers—seasoned, battle-tested, but injury-prone and struggling to regain his spark. The bold move? Hand the keys to the offense to Arch Manning, the golden boy with a name steeped in football royalty, yet unproven under the lights.
Sarkisian chose loyalty. He chose experience. He chose Ewers.
But did he choose wrong?
With the benefit of hindsight—and Ewers’ 2025 NFL Draft stock in freefall—it’s tempting to say yes. Sark’s decision now looks like one of caution over courage. Still, to his credit, he backed a warrior who fought his way back from injury time and time again. A leader who bled burnt orange. But loyalty, as CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli pointed out, may have cost Texas something bigger.
“We didn’t see much of Arch last year, but we saw enough to justify the hype,” Fornelli wrote, not holding back. “Call me crazy, but I thought all season that Texas was playing it too safe. Sarkisian was too respectful of Ewers. I fully believe giving Manning the keys in 2025 will unlock an even better version of Texas—better than a team that already made the CFP semifinals.”
Now, the plot thickens.
Despite throwing just 90 passes and rushing 25 times, Arch Manning has landed at No. 3 on Fornelli’s list of top quarterbacks heading into 2025—only behind Clemson’s Cade Klubnik and Penn State’s Drew Allar. That’s one spot higher than On3’s Andy Staples placed him. Bold? Absolutely. Risky? Maybe. But there’s no denying the intrigue.
Arch Manning is no longer just a name. He’s the future. And if Fornelli is right, Sarkisian’s next move could turn Texas from a CFP contender into a national champion—or leave fans wondering what could’ve been if the reins were handed over just a little sooner.
So here’s the real question—did Sarkisian wait too long to unleash Arch Manning, or was 2024 the lesson that had to happen before greatness begins?
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