Manning's Accuracy Questioned as No. 1 Texas Leans on Elite Defense
The short version
- Arch Manning's 61.5% completion rate is almost identical to his 61.4% from last season.
- Texas ranks 10th in the SEC with nine plays of 20-plus yards.
- The Longhorns' defense allows 12 points per game, 17th nationally, with one passing touchdown allowed.
- Linebacker Rasheem Biles has two of Texas's three interceptions.
- Texas A&M and LSU meet in Baton Rouge with both facing early conference pressure.
Arch Manning's completion rate is nearly unchanged from last season, but the Longhorns' defense has surrendered just 12 points per game through three games.
Texas is 3-0 and ranked No. 1 in the country, but questions remain about its offense heading deeper into the season. Quarterback Arch Manning has completed 61.5% of his passes, nearly identical to his 61.4% mark from a year ago, and the Longhorns have produced only nine plays of 20 or more yards, 10th in the 16-team SEC.
Head coach Steve Sarkisian said the staff is constantly looking for explosive-play chances while trying to stay efficient. He pointed to Texas converting well on third down and being aggressive on fourth down, though he flagged the team's two touchdowns on five red-zone trips as a concern. Asked what advice he would give Manning, Sarkisian said the senior should simply play his own game.
The road has been a particular trouble spot for Manning, who is 2-3 in five true road starts with a 57.7% completion rate, seven touchdowns and five interceptions. He has shown flashes, including a strong fourth quarter against Ohio State and a six-possession scoring stretch against UTSA that produced five touchdowns.
While the offense searches for consistency, the defense has been a anchor. Will Muschamp's unit is allowing 12 points per game, 17th nationally, and has given up just one passing touchdown, matching Tennessee. Linebacker Rasheem Biles has two of the team's three interceptions and drawn praise from analyst Sam Acho, a former Longhorns and NFL linebacker, as a ball-hawking centerpiece of the group.
The schedule ahead leaves little margin for error across the SEC. This weekend's Texas A&M-LSU matchup in Baton Rouge looms as an early must-win for both programs, with neither able to easily absorb a second conference loss in the first four games of the season.
