Steve Sarkisian addresses whether Arch Manning could be benched

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian addressed questions about whether quarterback Arch Manning could be benched after another poor showing Saturday.

Sarkisian was willing to bench former five-star recruit Colin Simmons earlier this season, albeit temporarily, after the sophomore edge rusher struggled. However, Sarkisian sees no reason to subject Manning to the same treatment as long as the quarterback is not making damaging mental errors.

“Different scenarios call for different measures of what you need to do. If Arch was having a bunch of mental errors and was not operating the offense well, that would’ve maybe required to take him out and I didn’t feel like that was the case,” Sarkisian said, via Brad Crawford of CBS Sports.

Sarkisian added that he thinks some of the adversity will prove “really good” for Manning, noting how little the quarterback has struggled in his football career up to this point.

“Here’s a guy who’s had an awesome life, you know? The way he’s grown up, where he played, the school he went and people he’s been surrounded by,” Sarkisian added. “But I think you learn a lot about yourself through adversity and overcoming adversity and getting on the other side.”

Manning has yet to demonstrate any of the traits that had him among the preseason favorites for the Heisman Trophy through Texas’ first three games. On Saturday, he went just 11/25 for 114 yards with a touchdown and an interception against UTEP, though he did add two rushing touchdowns. At one point, Longhorns fans even booed him and the rest of the offense.

It sounds like Manning is in no danger of losing his starting job as long as he does not start making mental mistakes. Given how much effort the Longhorns have invested in the quarterback, they really have no other alternative.