New Rumors on Arch Manning vs. KJ Lacey Jr.'s QB1 Battle After Texas' Loss to Florida

Texas is sticking with Arch Manning as the starting quarterback but could be laying the groundwork for an eventual change under center.

ESPN's Pete Thamel reported Monday that Karle "KJ" Lacey Jr. is expected to receive "an uptick in first-team quarterback reps."

Lacey, a 4-star recruit in the 2025 class, thrown nine passes for 70 yards through his two seasons on the Longhorns.

Head coach Steve Sarkisian told reporters he planned to "evaluate everything" after a 27-24 loss to Florida, which saw the team throw away a 14-point first-half lead. He added that Manning wouldn't be exempt from the personnel evaluations.

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The junior committed a costly fumble as Texas was attempting to at least tie the game late in the fourth quarter. Florida recovered the ball and ate up the final 1:58 to secure the win.

That benching Manning could even be on the table reflects how he has performed throughout the season. He has thrown for 1,295 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. His yards per game have fallen from 243.3 in 2025 to 215.8.

Four years into his stint in Austin, Manning hasn't shown a lot in the way of improvement. The moments when he looks like an NFL-caliber thrower are far overshadowed by his inconsistency and bad decision-making.

Sarkisian asserted last week that Manning may not receive as much scrutiny if he were "Joe Smith" and not somebody with such a decorated lineage. The flip side is that Manning might've been benched already if he were any other former 5-star recruit yet to pan out by Year 4.

For now, getting Lacey more looks with the first team is likely about sending a message more than anything else. Having said that, a coach doesn't take this step without having the wherewithal to follow through if a QB change is merited.

The Longhorns host No. 7 Ole Miss on Saturday. Should Manning once again struggle, elevating Lacey to QB1 status might be a serious possibility.