How does Steve Sarkisian keep Texas QB Arch Manning happy, content, positive?

There’s a curious disconnect regarding the hysteria around Texas quarterback Arch Manning.

In Austin, the chatter has cooled. The redshirt freshman is the backup to junior starter Quinn Ewers. Anyone who’s around the Texas Longhorns knows this.

Let there be zero doubt: Texas is Ewers’ team.

But outside Austin, it’s completely different. Why isn’t Arch starting!? What is coach Steve Sarkisian thinking!? It’s fueled massive internet speculation and noise that reporters, administrators, and those close to the program find amusing.

Still, Sarkisian can ill afford rumors or any negativity to creep in regarding the high-profile backup, who no doubt will play when his opportunity comes. The coach spoke at length about Manning on Monday during an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show.

Asked how he keeps Manning happy, content and positive, Sarkisian said, “Yeah, the one thing with Arch has been, and I really credit his family, his mom and his dad, his grandpa, obviously his uncles, you know, I think they understand the process.

“So many times, we’re in this world now of instant gratification, right?,” he continued. “Whether it’s social media or the five-star recruit comes in and starts right away. But if you really look back at the history of Eli and Peyton (Manning), they didn’t start their freshman year. It took time as they developed. I think the one thing that the Mannings understand is, when it’s your time to play, they want to play really well, right? They don't want to be learning on the job.”

Sarkisian then pivoted to his history of working with some incredible college quarterbacks, from his days at USC to the quarterback-heavy room at Alabama before coming to Texas in 2021.

“We’ve got a pretty good history and tradition of developing quarterbacks over the last 20 or so years, going all the way back to Carson Palmer and all the guys that we’ve coached,” Sarkisian said. “And I think we’ve seen an immense amount of development in Arch. We feel very comfortable, if, and, or when he gets in the game, he’s going to play good football for us.

“But I also think they understand the process of developing himself to be a championship caliber quarterback in the SEC and on the national stage, but also preparing and putting himself in the best position for the National Football League.”

Manning appeared in two games last season for the Longhorns and completed just 2-of-5 passes for 30 yards. Those stats came against Texas Tech. He came onto the field to snap the ball and bleed out the clock in the Big 12 championship game win over Oklahoma State.

Ewers threw for 3,479 yards and 22 touchdowns last season with just six interceptions. He completed 69 percent of his throws. Ewers has become the face of the UT program, appearing in all kinds of commercial advertisements via name, image and likeness opportunities for companies like Hulu, Dr Pepper and a well-known Austin lawyer with a catchy phone number.

Still, the questions persist. When is Manning going to start? Unless something happens to Ewers this season, the answer is likely 2025.