{"id":266809,"date":"2025-09-30T15:19:17","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T15:19:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/266809\/"},"modified":"2025-09-30T15:19:17","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T15:19:17","slug":"will-texas-qb-arch-manning-become-the-swamps-latest-victim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/266809\/","title":{"rendered":"Will Texas QB Arch Manning become the Swamp’s latest victim?"},"content":{"rendered":"

GAINESVILLE \u2014 Florida will host Texas<\/a> for the first time since 1940 in a matchup of two of college football\u2019s biggest brands and a pair of bluebloods struggling to meet expectations.<\/p>\n

Billy Napier\u2019s Gators<\/a> (1-3, 0-1 SEC) have been one of the season\u2019s biggest disappointments, while the No. 9 Longhorns (3-1, 0-0) have yet to live up to their preseason No. 1 ranking.<\/p>\n

A season after routing UF 49-17<\/a> in Austin, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian\u2019s storied program opens its second season in the SEC<\/a> Saturday in the Swamp as 6.5-point favorites. The Gators look to end their third three-game skid in Napier\u2019s four seasons as he fights to save his job.<\/p>\n

Questions abound in a marquee matchup that has lost some luster since the season began.<\/p>\n

Is Arch Manning set to become the Swamp\u2019s latest victim?<\/p>\n

The redshirt sophomore aims to avoid becoming the latest signal caller to come unglued in Gainesville. The list includes his famous uncle Peyton, who was 0-2 with Tennessee.<\/p>\n

The latest high-profile member of football\u2019s first family stumbled during a season-opening loss at Ohio State, missing routine throws and appearing overwhelmed. The preseason favorite to win the Heisman Trophy has steadily improved facing outmanned competition. Manning finished 18-of-21 for 309 yards and 3 scores during a 55-0 win Sept. 20 against Sam Houston.<\/p>\n

But the 21-year-old will be tested by the nation\u2019s No. 22 defense.<\/p>\n

\"FloridaFlorida hopes the Gators’ home crowd in the Swamp can elevate them to a much-needed win against Texas. (Stephen M. Dowell\/Orlando Sentinel)<\/p>\n

A sold-out crowd will do its part impacting the outcome.\u00a0Just ask Ole Miss\u2019 Jaxson Dart, LSU\u2019s Garrett Nussmeier<\/a> and Joe Burrow, Auburn\u2019s Bo Nix and Missouri Drew Locke, talented QBs who had miserable days in one of the game\u2019s toughest environments.<\/p>\n

Two late-game interceptions doomed Dart and the No. 9 Rebels<\/a> last November, a week after the Gators sacked Nussmeier seven times to upset the Tigers. A season before he led a record-setting attack and won the Heisman, Burrow threw three interceptions, including a pick-six, during a 2018 loss<\/a>. In 2019, Nix was a 5-star true freshman who threw three picks, suffered a 22-yard loss on sack and was 11 of 27 passing.<\/p>\n

In 2016, Locke entered the game averaging a league-high 335 passing yards, but finished with 39 and two pick-sixes.<\/p>\n

Not every QB is overwhelmed on Florida\u2019s home field. Alabama\u2019s Bryce Young led his team to a 2021 win as a freshman and Cam Ward engineered a 41-17 rout to open the 2024 season. Each went on to be the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.<\/p>\n

Manning looks to follow in the footsteps of his other Super Bowl-winning uncle Eli; he pulled out a 20-17 decision in 2003 against Ron Zook\u2019s Gators.<\/p>\n

Can Dallas Wilson be the difference?<\/p>\n

Expectations have been sky high ever since he set spring game records with 10 catches and 195 receiving yards, while scoring twice. The true freshman now hopes to elevate a struggling offense in his collegiate debut after he missed the first four games with a left foot injury.<\/p>\n

Napier called the development \u201ca big deal\u201d for a passing game tied for last nationally with Northwestern with an average of just 5.4 yards per attempt against FBS competition.<\/p>\n

Quarterback DJ Lagway<\/a> couldn\u2019t be more thrilled. The 6-foot-3, 213-pound Wilson is a big, sure-handed target and downfield threat UF has sorely lacked \u2014 Lagway\u2019s longest completion was 12 yards during a 26-7 loss at Miami<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Willson, though, will have to get up to speed against a secondary that returns three starters and has yielded just one touchdown pass. Napier is just happy to have Wilson back.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen your best players are available, that definitely helps,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Will Napier\u2019s decision to call plays doom him?<\/p>\n

Florida\u2019s coach insists he is not the problem, that overseeing the offense best serves the Gators \u2014 despite evidence to the contrary.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Year 8 for me, and it\u2019s the way we\u2019ve done it,\u201d said Napier, who is 20-22 at UF after arriving from Louisiana. \u201cIt helped us get here. There\u2019s a lot of guys that are still doing it, too. You could argue both ways here. I watched several of them this weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n

One will be on the other sideline Saturday. Sarkisian holds play-calling duties himself.<\/p>\n

Yet, Sarkisian fielded the SEC\u2019s second-best scoring offense in 2024 (33 point per game against FBS teams) and reached the CFB semifinals. Meanwhile, while Florida was 11th (26.9 ppg) and played in the Gasparilla Bowl.<\/p>\n

Sarkisian and Napier were on Alabama\u2019s 2016 staff when Nick Saban elevated Sarkisian to call plays in the national title game afte Lane Kiffin\u2019s departure to FAU. Sarkisian is considered among the game\u2019s top offensive minds, while Napier\u2019s decision to maintain play calling continues to draw criticism.<\/p>\n

\"GatorsGators head coach Billy Napier has been his team’s primary play caller during eight seasons as a head coach, including the past four at UF. (Stephen M. Dowell\/Orlando Sentinel)<\/p>\n

Napier appeared on the verge of ceding duties the past two offseasons, but he stuck with it largely to maintain continuity with his quarterbacks \u2014 Graham Mertz in 2024 and Lagway this season.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe quarterback is a huge piece of that puzzle, in terms of the verbiage, the system, the dialogue, how you teach,\u201d Napier said.<\/p>\n

Lagway\u2019s offseason injuries stunted the sophomore\u2019s development. Additionally, holding back Napier\u2019s attack is the questionable use of receiver Tre Wilson, the over-reliance on two tight ends and the overestimation of the offensive line. Many also point to play-calling predictability.<\/p>\n

Whatever the case, it\u2019s not working; UF averages 11 points in its three losses.<\/p>\n

Ohio State\u2019s Ryan Day, Florida State\u2019s Mike Norvell and Missouri\u2019s Eli Drinkwitz each handed off play calling with immediate results. Barring a remarkable turnaround, it\u2019s too late now for Napier.<\/p>\n

Could special teams decide it?<\/p>\n

Long a source of concern<\/a>, the game\u2019s third phase has stabilized and become a strength in the second season under Joe Houston<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe kicking game has become a weapon for us, the punt return game, our specialists\u2019 play,\u201d Napier said.<\/p>\n

While Napier likes his group, Texas is not be overlooked.<\/p>\n

UF punter Tommy Doman averages 46.1 yards per punt, while Texas\u2019 Jack Bouwmeester sits at 46.5; true freshman Vernell Brown III of Orlando is third in the SEC in punt returning (18.3 average), while Ryan Niblett (16.4) is fourth for the Longhorns; and Texas kicker Mason Shipley is 5 of 5 on field goals while Florida\u2019s Trey Smack is 4 of 4 in the past three games.<\/p>\n

In a matchup pitting strong defenses and young quarterbacks, special teams could play a key role.<\/p>\n

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com<\/a><\/p>\n

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