Overview

• Through five starts, Manning has about 1,150 passing yards with 11 touchdowns, five interceptions and 60% completions, plus 160 rushing yards and five rushing scores.
• In the 29-21 loss at Florida, he was sacked six times and credited with 35 pressures, the most Texas has allowed in the Sarkisian era.
• Sarkisian said Manning’s average 3.23-second time-to-throw reflects a plan to push the ball vertically, contrasting with Quinn Ewers’ 2.59-second quick-game profile, and noted a target in the mid-2s.
• A New York Times post sharing The Athletic’s line that Manning is “a man synonymous with failure” drew widespread pushback, while figures such as Danny Kanell, Urban Meyer and Kirk Herbstreit called the criticism premature.
• Oklahoma enters with an FBS-leading 21 sacks, heightening focus on Texas’ protection issues, and receiver Parker Livingstone is expected to be available after negative X-rays ahead of the rivalry game.