Trevor Matich rips Texas roster, credits Arch Manning: 'He has carried this team with his arm'

Arch Manning‘s season has been one of the most widely criticized campaigns in college football this season. However, ESPN’s Trevor Matich is backing the Texas QB.

Matich, who was on the call for Wednesday’s Jacksonville State vs. Middle Tennessee game on ESPN2, believes the blame shouldn’t be put squarely on Manning’s back. Sure, he hasn’t been perfect. But they haven’t helped pick him back up along the way, either.

“You can gripe about Arch, but he’s been walking barefoot through broken glass for this team,” Matich said. “He has carried this team with his arm because they can’t run the ball. Their running backs’ yards per carry is one of the worst in the SEC. They can’t protect Arch. He’s been sacked 18 times, which is one of the most in the SEC.”

Against Mississippi State, Texas had to score 24 points in the fourth quarter to force overtime. The Longhorns finished the game with 72 total rushing yards with a 2.3 ypc average along the way.

Meanwhile, Manning was 29-46 passing for 346 yards, four total touchdowns and an interception before getting knocked out of the game trying to make a play. Texas would go on to win 45-38, but Manning is now questionable for Week 10’s matchup at home against Vanderbilt.

“Texas was down 17 points in the fourth quarter, in part, because they couldn’t protect the quarterback and they couldn’t run and Arch was getting beat up,” Matich continued. “And Arch brought them back with his arm until, in overtime, he got concussed trying to get to the end zone. So even though Arch is missing still too many easy throws that he should be making, his toughness, I think, is not getting as much credit as it should.”

On the season, Manning has thrown for 1,795 yards on a 60.9% completion percentage. He’s thrown 15 touchdowns compared to six interceptions in eight games played.

His Longhorns are currently 6-2 overall with a 3-1 record against its SEC competition. A win over a top-10 Vanderbilt team on Saturday would do wonders for not only the Longhorns’ confidence, but be a major boost to their College Football Playoff push.

While Manning remains limited at practice, Matthew Caldwell will hear his number called if he can’t suit up. Caldwell threw the game-winning touchdown pass in overtime, so his confidence won’t be in question if he’s in-line to make the start. To best the white-hot Commodores, however, it’ll take more than just the effort from the quarterback to send Diego Pavia and company back to Nashville with a loss.