Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian has been under pressure this season to substitute starting quarterback Quinn Ewers with Arch Manning, a highly touted five-star recruit. Despite Ewers’ solid performance in a recent game, completing 10-of-19 passes for 133 yards and a touchdown calls for Manning to take the field persisted. Sarkisian finally made the decision to insert Manning late in the first half, even though Ewers had been playing well.
The substitution came on a crucial fourth-and-short play near midfield. Manning, stepping in for Ewers, managed to pick up the first down but was hit hard by a helmet-to-helmet collision. As Manning’s left arm touched the turf, the ball seemed to come loose, raising concerns about a potential fumble. However, after a quick review by the officials, it was determined that Manning was down before the ball came out, so the fumble was not counted.
While the attention was on the fumble, some fans pointed out that the play could have been flagged for targeting. They observed that the defender had used the crown of his helmet to make contact with the back of Manning’s helmet. Social media erupted with questions and disbelief over the lack of a targeting penalty. Fans expressed their concern over the hit, noting that it seemed to meet the criteria for targeting under the rules.
Many were surprised that the broadcast did not address the potential targeting call, focusing instead on the fumble review. The lack of discussion regarding the safety of Manning, who appeared to be dazed after the hit, added to the frustration among fans. As the play was reviewed, there was no mention of the possible targeting violation, which led to further criticism of the officials’ handling of the situation.
By the end of the first half, Ohio State held a 14-7 lead over Texas, and the game remained closely contested. Despite the controversy surrounding Manning’s hit, the focus shifted back to the game, with fans continuing to debate the fairness of the officiating and the impact of the hit on the young quarterback’s performance.
