This Saturday, October 11, all eyes turn to the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, for one of college football’s most storied matchups: the Red River Rivalry between the Arch Manning-led No. 19 Texas Longhorns and the No. 6 Oklahoma Sooners. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET. Despite the Longhorns’ recent 29-21 loss to Florida, the rivalry retains its immense importance for both fan bases and their seasons.
Why Is Urban Meyer Questioning Arch Manning’s Development?
The Longhorns coach, Steve Sarkisian, is under the microscope off the field, notably after Urban Meyer voiced concerns about quarterback Manning’s development. Meyer didn’t hold back during his latest appearance on “The Triple Option” podcast.
“All these scouts calling him a potential number one overall pick, and I remember thinking, ‘Who? No, he’s not. Someday he might be,’” Meyer said.
Meyer elaborated on his expectations for a top-tier quarterback prospect. “Here’s the problem I have, and I kind of gave him the benefit of the doubt against Ohio State because the receivers, to me, still don’t look like Texas receivers. But with Arch Manning, week in and week out after five games, you should start to see that progression. That’s what happens with really good quarterbacks, from Dwayne Haskins to [Tim] Tebow to Alex Smith, the ones I had my hands on. You see steady progression, where game three is better than game two, game four is better than game three.”
Those comments highlight the growing pressure on Manning and Sarkisian to demonstrate tangible growth as the season progresses, especially with Oklahoma looming. This happens while Oklahoma remains firmly in College Football Playoff contention, though its quarterback situation is murky following John Mateer’s hand surgery. Mateer last played on September 20 in a 24-17 win over Auburn, leaving his availability for the clash with the Longhorns in question.
What Does This Game Mean for Texas’ Season and Sarkisian’s Future?
The key matchup will involve the Longhorns offensive line against Oklahoma’s formidable defensive front, led by Brent Venables. The Sooners rank first nationally in sack percentage at 16.26%, creating a major challenge for the Longhorns’ line that allows sacks on only 5.77% of dropbacks.
Manning’s performance metrics reflect his early struggles. Through Week 6, he holds a 76.7 QB Impact (QBi) score. While that is an improvement from 74.0 the previous week and a jump from 95th to 74th among all eligible quarterbacks, it still earns him just a C.
Beyond individual performances, Meyer also assessed the Longhorns’ broader schedule and talent distribution. “Well, here’s the thing. Penn State will jog on the field however many times, seven games left, and they’ll have one team across the field that will have the same talent or better talent than them. Texas won’t have any,” he argued. “So keep that in mind, again, Penn State, the white and blue jerseys are going to jog on the field, there’s only one team that has what they’ve got. That is Ohio State. Indiana does not… Texas? There’s not another team that has the same. Oklahoma’s close, Georgia’s close, yeah, but not the same.”
His assessment emphasizes that much of the Longhorns’ success will hinge on team execution and locker room cohesion rather than sheer talent alone. On the financial side, Sarkisian is one of college football’s highest-paid coaches, with a 2025 salary of $10.8 million, according to a recent report by USA TODAY. His contract includes a significant buyout for termination without cause, which is $60,307,500 as of December 1. If he were to leave voluntarily before the year’s end, it would cost him $6 million. That amount drops to $4 million if he departs on or after January 1, 2026.
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Defensively, the Longhorns has been impressive, ranking fifth nationally by allowing only 12 points per game and 11th in rushing yards allowed. The offense, however, has been less consistent. The Longhorns are 53rd in total offense, averaging 419.2 yards per game, but they have struggled to consistently turn those yards into points.
Oklahoma coach Brent Venables underscored the challenge Sarkisian presents. “End of the day it’s about the players. Everything you said is accurate. He’s had success at the very highest level for a long time. And they put a lot of pressure and stress on you, both run game, in the deep shot game, in the screen game, all of it. He does a great job with his creativity in the play design.”
With Oklahoma’s defensive prowess and the mounting internal pressures at the Longhorns, this weekend’s clash could define Manning’s development and Sarkisian’s trajectory. A win over the Sooners would not only bolster the Longhorns’ playoff hopes but could also silence many of their early-season critics.