Arch Manning’s Texas QB1 Spot in Jeopardy As $25M Pressure Might Force Steve Sarkisian’s Hands

Few teams entered the 2025 college football season with more hype than the Texas Longhorns. On paper, the roster is loaded with talent, and many expected quarterback Arch Manning to be among the nation’s top players.

However, after five games, the team sits at 3-2, with both losses coming against their only Power Four opponents. Given the Longhorns’ investment in their roster, some believe head coach Steve Sarkisian could be forced to move on from Manning if the team continues to struggle.

Is Arch Manning’s Starting Job In Jeopardy Amid $25M Pressure?

In today’s college football landscape, winning often comes down to spending big. The Longhorns certainly did that this offseason, with initial reports claiming Texas spent $40 million on their roster. Sarkisian denied that figure, but On3 reported that the team still invested around $25 million.

That’s a lot of money to spend on a team with two losses after five games, and much of the blame has fallen on Manning. While Sarkisian is known as an offensive guru, the Longhorns’ offense ranks 61st in the country according to PFSN’s CFB OFFi metric, and Manning ranks 74th among college quarterbacks in PFSN’s CFB QBi metric.

On the “Colin Cowherd Podcast,” John Middlekauff explained that given the amount of money the Longhorns have already invested in their roster and are expected to continue investing in the future, Manning’s days as Texas’s starting quarterback could be numbered.

“I think in the day and age when you’re paying so much money to individual players, I think his spot is in major jeopardy in 2026,” Middlekauff said. “You just pay too much for the roster to leave it in the chance of [Manning].”

Middlekauff makes a strong point. Texas can’t afford to underperform on the field, especially after spending as much or more than nearly any other program in college football.

He added that the era of giving quarterbacks multiple years to develop is over with the level of spending in today’s game, and Texas will move on quickly if they don’t believe Manning can deliver national titles.

“Their mentality, wouldn’t you agree, with the amount of money they’re paying for a roster and a coaching staff, and the transfer portal now is to compete for national championships every single year,” Middlekauff said. “You don’t get a three-year runway.”

It’s an interesting perspective on the direction of today’s college football, but Middlekauff isn’t wrong. Whether right or wrong, teams are quicker to move on from players if they aren’t meeting the expectations tied to their investment.

College football is becoming a business. Manning entered the season with hype as a potential Heisman candidate and a possible No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but after five games, it’s starting to look like he may not even be with the Longhorns next season.