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Struggling Texas QB Arch Manning says he'll be 'letting it rip' against No. 7 Ole Miss

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Cite

Vertuno, J. (2026, October 22). Struggling Texas QB Arch Manning says he'll be 'letting it rip' against No. 7 Ole Miss. Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/struggling-texas-qb-arch-manning-says-he-ll-be-letting-it-rip-against-no-7-ole-miss/article_31f10709-f2c9-5ceb-996d-940064dd3782.html

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Toronto Star · collected 2026-10-22 · by Jim Vertuno

Quick Summary

Arch Manning, the starting quarterback for No. 19 Texas, faces criticism over his recent performance, including consecutive losses to unranked opponents. Despite this, coach Steve Sarkisian plans to keep Manning as the starter against No. 7 Ole Miss on Saturday night, a game that holds personal significance due to Arch's family history with the Rebels. Manning vows to play more aggressively and has promised he will "let it rip," aiming to improve his performance under pressure. The matchup is crucial for Texas' playoff hopes; losing could jeopardize their chances further.
Written by AI on 2026-10-22, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

Arch Manning led Texas to a 34-27 upset victory over No. 7 Ole Miss, despite throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble that contributed to anxiety among fans and media alike about his performance during a tense second half. The game initially seemed like it would be a blowout as Texas raced out to a 24-3 lead in the first half, with Manning showing promise by completing 13 of 19 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for another score.

However, Ole Miss mounted a strong comeback, leading to a nail-biting finish. Coach Steve Sarkisian praised Manning's fiery performance, noting that it helped the team respond positively despite the pressure from losing leads in previous games. Notably, Manning led the drive culminating in the touchdown that put Texas ahead for good in the fourth quarter.

Despite this critical moment, Kirk Herbstreit criticized Manning’s decision-making during a key play when he threw an interception under heavy pressure and triple coverage. This throw mirrored a similar poor decision made against Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout earlier in the season, highlighting concerns about Manning's ability to handle high-pressure situations effectively.

Texas fans will be hoping for sustained improvement from Manning as they navigate their challenging remaining schedule, while Sarkisian remains committed to supporting his quarterback through these challenges. The team’s resilience and Manning’s leadership under pressure suggest there could still be room for growth in the final stretch of the season.

Written for “Arch Manning Leads Texas Against Ole Miss” on 2026-10-31, grounded in this article and the 9 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

📰 Arch Manning Leads Texas Against Ole Miss
Sports · 10 article(s) covering the same event. Compare every outlet's account →

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 10% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.
Toronto Star
Hedges 0 of 20 claims Outlet record 64/100
New York Post
Hedges 0 of 16 claims Outlet record 66/100
Fox News
Hedges 3 of 33 claims Outlet record 69/100
Toronto Star
Hedges 1 of 30 claims Outlet record 64/100
New York Post
Hedges 0 of 10 claims Outlet record 66/100
“The articles describe different games and time periods, with Article A referring to a loss to Florida and Article B discussing an upcoming game against Ole Miss.”
Fox News
Hedges 6 of 22 claims Outlet record 69/100
“The articles describe different games and contexts involving Arch Manning, with Article A referring to a game against Florida where Texas lost after being up by 14 points, while Article B discusses upcoming preparations for a game against Ole Miss.”
New York Post
Hedges 0 of 19 claims Outlet record 66/100
“The articles discuss Arch Manning's situation and performance, but they describe different points in time with separate outcomes (a loss to Florida vs. preparation for a game against Ole Miss).”
Fox News
Hedges 3 of 31 claims Outlet record 69/100
“The articles describe different games and periods of time, with Article A focusing on a recent upset victory over Florida despite Texas' struggles, while Article B discusses Arch Manning's upcoming game against Ole Miss amid his own struggles.”
Toronto Star
Hedges 2 of 31 claims Outlet record 64/100
“The articles describe different points in time during Arch Manning's struggling season, but not the same specific game or incident.”
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
29
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
10%
3 of 29 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
64/100
Toronto Star's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
10
Sports
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-10-22 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

Toronto Star · 10661 article(s) · 27 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 27 correction(s)
2026-10-26
Correction
2026-10-24
Correction
2026-10-07
Correction
2026-09-24
Correction

Who wrote this

Jim Vertuno
17 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
🔮 Hamilton might have too, if not for a late virtual safety car in the closing laps.
🔮 AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Kimi Antonelli stormed to his ninth win of the season on Sunday at the United States Grand Prix and further tightened his grip on a Formula 1 season championship that he could win at the next race in Mexico City.
🔮 And it could come fast.
🔮 Antonelli could even win it Sunday at the United States Grand Prix if he wins and other results fall his way.
🔮 But the memories have been undercut by Arch Manning’s struggles this season, and questions of whether he could be benched for backup KJ Lacey after consecutive losses to unranked opponents that sent Texas tumbling from No. 1.
🔮 Two losses later, the Longhorns’ playoff hopes look shaky, their best player had to leave the game with an injury, and their most famous player, quarterback Arch Manning, is in such a funk that head coach Steve Sarkisian hinted that his job could be in jeopardy. “Everything is going to be evaluated,” Sarkisian said after Texas lost 27-24 to unranked Florida on Saturday.
🔮 “They recognize they may be the only way to stop it before law enforcement arrives,” said James Keith, a spokesperson for the center.
🔮 Against Tennessee, his fair catch signal negated would have been a nifty misdirection play on a punt return.
🔮 The owners of Camp Mystic have proposed selling off the riverfront property as part of a bankruptcy plan, with hopes that a buyer will preserve the camp’s “historic mission” following the death of 27 campers and counselors swept away by a 2025 flood.
🔮 In his weekly radio show on Thursday, Cignetti recalled that when Trump left the game “around the 7-minute mark ... there were two or three plays we couldn't hear at all.”
Also by Jim Vertuno
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 17 articles by Jim Vertuno →

Topics

Florida Mississippi Rebels SEC Texas

Subjects

Texas GPE · 16× Manning PERSON · 6× Rebels ORG · 5× Florida GPE · 4× Mississippi GPE · 3× SEC ORG · 3× Sarkisian PERSON · 3× Arch PERSON · 2× Lacey PERSON · 2× Longhorns ORG · 2×

Narrative

He is the architect and play caller of a Texas offense that ranks among the bottom third in the SEC and hasn’t scored more than three touchdowns since the first game of the season.
framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-22
🔮 But the memories have been undercut by Arch Manning’s struggles this season, and questions of whether he could be benched for backup KJ Lacey after consecutive losses to unranked opponents that sent Texas tumbling from No. 1.

Claims (29 extracted, 3 hedged)

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Arch Manning leading No. 19 Texas against No. 7 Mississippi was supposed to be weeklong family stroll down memory lane. asserted
Manning → lead → lane
So was Super Bowl-winning uncle Eli. asserted
Eli → win → ?
And Saturday night is the first meeting of the programs since Texas moved from the Big 12 to the Southeastern Conference. asserted
Texas → move → Conference
But the memories have been undercut by Arch Manning’s struggles this season, and questions of whether he could be benched for backup KJ Lacey after consecutive losses to unranked opponents that sent Texas tumbling from No. 1. uncertain
that → undercut → .
Steve Sarkisian said he’s sticking with Manning as the starter, but acknowledged, “I need to see a better version of Arch.” asserted
I → say → Arch
Manning promised he’s ready to do that. asserted
he → promise → that
He’s going to play fast and free and have fun. asserted
He → go → fun
“I’m gonna die on the hill of letting it rip,” Manning said. asserted
Manning → go → hill
Sarkisian has faced criticism of his own. asserted
Sarkisian → face → own
He is the architect and play caller of a Texas offense that ranks among the bottom third in the SEC and hasn’t scored more than three touchdowns since the first game of the season. asserted
that → rank → season
Texas (4-2, 1-2 SEC) has lost consecutive regular-season games for the first time since 2021. asserted
Texas → lose → 2021
A third loss would likely doom the Longhorns’ chances of making the College Football Playoff. asserted
loss → doom → Playoff
Rebels coach Pete Golding dismissed the criticism of Manning and the turmoil on the Texas sideline over Sarkisian’s play calling. asserted
Golding → dismiss → calling
He remembers the quarterback and team that rallied to beat then-No. 1 Ohio State back on Sept. 12. asserted
that → remember → Sept.
“Somehow it’s been lost that they beat the No. 1 team in the country and they were the No. 1 team in the country,” Golding said. asserted
Golding → lose → country
They’ve got elite skill and a really good coach. asserted
They → get → skill
Mississippi (5-1, 3-1) has regrouped from a surprising blowout loss to Florida and appears to be humming again behind quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. Lacey is on deck if Manning gets the hook Sarkisian may have to make an in-game decision if Manning struggles again. Lacey was a four-star recruit out of Alabama, where he ranks among that state’s high school career passing leaders. uncertain
he → regroup → leaders
The sophomore has played in two games in mop-up duty this season but hasn’t played since Sept. 19 against UTSA. asserted
sophomore → play → UTSA
He is 7-of-8 passing with no touchdowns. asserted
He → pass → touchdowns
Texas star pass rusher Colin Simmons injured asserted
Simmons → injure → ?
The All-American has been a dominant game wrecker with 10 1/2 sacks this season but may not play because of a high ankle sprain. uncertain
American → play → sprain
Texas will miss Simmons while defending a Rebels offense that boasts a triple threat in Chambliss, running back Kewan Lacy and wide receiver Deuce Alexander. asserted
that → miss → Chambliss
Rebels defense much improved after slow start Mississippi ranks 108th nationally in total defense but smothered Missouri last week in a 31-3 victory. asserted
Mississippi → improve → victory
Florida’s defense was ranked last in the SEC last week but still held Texas under 300 total yards and mostly shut down Texas’ explosive plays. asserted
defense → rank → plays
Texas hasn’t scored a third-quarter touchdown over the last five games. asserted
Texas → score → games
The Longhorns have kicked just two field goals in the quarter over that span. asserted
Longhorns → kick → span
Against Florida last week, the Texas offense had the ball for just six plays and gained eight total yards in the third quarter. asserted
offense → have → quarter
Rebels special teams will need to lock down Texas punt returner Ryan Niblett, who scored a 62-yard touchdown against Florida. asserted
who → need → Florida
That tied the school career record of three. asserted
That → tie → three
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