Urban Meyer questions Steve Sarkisian, Ryan Day after Arch Manning, Julian Sayin first halves

During the first half of Saturday’s anticipated Texas vs. Ohio State matchup, both Steve Sarkisian and Ryan Day were aggressive on fourth down despite having inexperienced quarterbacks. That led to questions from Urban Meyer during the halftime break.

Both Arch Manning and Julian Sayin were preparing for their first starts as the full-time starters at their respective programs. But the two teams combined to go for three fourth-downs instead of punt. They both converted once.

Meyer questioned why Sarkisian and Day didn’t play the field position game. With young quarterbacks, the former Florida and Ohio State coach said punting would have put them in better position for quicker success with talented defenses.

“I want to talk about what could’ve been,” Meyer said on the FOX halftime show. “There were a couple coaching decisions early in this game. When you have an elite defense – I’ve been fortunate to have some great defenses, young quarterback – play field position. There were four fourth downs in the first half, three of them I was like, ‘What are we doing?’ … I get it. I get why you’re aggressive and all that.

“But you know what? Early in the season, this kind of elite defense with a young quarterback, let them go come out. That’s when young quarterbacks make mistakes.”

Manning went 5-of-10 passing for 26 yards in the first half while Sayin completed 6-of-11 passes for 53 yards. Neither player threw for a touchdown, though Ohio State broke through when CJ Donaldson took a fourth-down carry in for a 1-yard touchdown.

All eyes were on Manning as he takes over as Texas’ full-time starter after two years behind Quinn Ewers. He got off to a rocky start as he struggled against Ohio State’s talented defense. To Brady Quinn, though, the goal needs to be about getting Manning into a rhythm and perhaps find that one big play to unlock the offense in the second half.

“That’s what you have to be preaching if you’re Sark, (you’re one big play away),” Quinn said on the broadcast. “And also if you’re Arch Manning. You are only one big play out of this thing. Don’t be shocked if they don’t find a way of getting Ryan Wingo the football. He’s explosive. He’s dangerous. Ohio State know that they’ve been able to keep kind of top on him so far, but be careful in the second half.”