Booger McFarland uses 'bathroom' analogy while calling on Arch Manning, DJ Lagway to step up

Entering the 2025 season, there was plenty of hype around both Arch Manning and DJ Lagway. Both players were entering their first full seasons as the starting quarterback at their respective programs and generating Heisman Trophy buzz.

However, it’s been a rocky start for both as they get ready to square off in Saturday’s Texas at Florida matchup. Ahead of the game, ESPN’s Booger McFarland used a unique analogy to describe what he wants to see.

Both the Longhorns and Gators are coming off bye weeks, and McFarland said he hopes the two quarterbacks used it as an opportunity to reset. He compared it to a bad hair day, when people go back to the mirror in the bathroom to make adjustments and look better.

“You know how it is when you wake up in the morning and you’re having a bad hair day,” McFarland told Kevin Negandhi on SportsCenter. “You go back in the bathroom and you mess with the hair, and you make it look better.

“Now, which quarterback can go back in the bathroom and look at themselves and say, ‘We haven’t played well,’ and get better? I want to see that Saturday night.”

Manning has had an up-and-down start to the year, but appeared to get back on track with a strong showing against Sam Houston State. Through four games, he has thrown for 888 yards and nine touchdowns, to three interceptions. He has also added 123 rushing yards and five touchdowns.

Lagway, meanwhile, has thrown for 690 yards and five touchdowns across five games, but struggled mightily last time out against LSU. He threw five interceptions after turning it over just once through the first three games of the year.

McFarland said both players had an opportunity to regroup during their bye. As a result, he wants to see which one is able to show what they worked on over the time off.

“Florida’s defense has been really good. So has Texas’,” McFarland said. “I think the defenses are going to rule the show. It’s going to be up to which quarterback is going to kind of live up or get close to the preseason hype? Think about this. There was talk about Arch Manning being the first pick in the draft, DJ Lagway was in the Heisman Trophy [race]. Both of these quarterbacks have underwhelmed. But they’ve played a few games. Now, which quarterback is going to go back, assess the tape and get a little bit better?

“DJ Lagway threw five interceptions against LSU. Arch Manning couldn’t hit the side of a barn in a recent one of his games. Both of these quarterbacks have things to work on. I’m looking forward to watching which quarterback has gone back to the lab and worked on some things.”