About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arch Manning began his second season as Texas' starting quarterback with a fast start, highlighted by leading the Longhorns to a fourth-quarter comeback victory over Ohio State in Week 2.
His performance against the Buckeyes, which included directing three fourth-quarter touchdown drives, propelled the 6-foot-4 playmaker up the Heisman Trophy odds board and appeared to validate the lofty expectations that have followed him as a member of one of football's famous families .
Since then, however, that momentum has stalled. Costly fourth-quarter turnovers by Manning contributed to Texas' second-half collapses against Oklahoma and Florida , leading to increased scrutiny in Austin and sparking questions about whether the Longhorns would consider a change at quarterback .
(L-R) Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, Archie Manning and New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning attends the NERF Father's Day Football Throwdown on June 14, 2008 at Chelsea Piers in New York City. (Astrid Stawiarz, Getty Images) Peyton Manning (left) Eli Manning (center) and Cooper Manning (right) all wearing (18) jerseys honoring the jersey retirement of father and former Ole Miss quarterback Archie Manning (not pictured) in a ceremony at Vaught-Heningway Stadium. (Michael C. Hebert-US PRESSWIRE, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Peyton Manning (left), former Ole Miss quarterback Archie Manning (center), Cooper Manning (right) and Eli Manning (far right) on the bench at Vaught-Heningway Stadium. (Michael C. Hebert-USA TODAY Sports, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) FILE PHOTO; Peyton Manning (left), former Ole Miss quarterback Archie Manning (center) and Cooper Manning (right) during a portrait session at the Manning passing academy in July 1997. (Michael C. Hebert-USA TODAY Sports, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning leads the Vols' Pride of the Southland Band in a rendition of "Rocky Top" after the No. 3 ranked Volunteers closed out Vanderbilt 17-10 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville Nov. 29, 1997. (Delores Delvin / The Tennessean) Eli Manning #10 of the Mississippi Rebels celebrate a 31-28 victory against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the SBC Cotton Bowl on January 2, 2004 in Dallas, Texas. (Ronald Martinez, Getty Images) Mississippi Rebels quarterback Archie Manning (18) in action against the Kentucky Wildcats at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, Sept. 26, 1970. (Malcolm Emmons-US PRESSWIRE, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) looks on after a game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium, Nov. 15, 2025. (Brett Davis, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning is greeted by Vol mascot Smokey before the Vanderbilt game Nov. 29, 1997, at Neyland Stadium. It was Manning's final home game. (Byron Small/News Sentinel) Quarterback Eli Manning #10 of the Mississippi Rebels looks for a receiver against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the first quarter during the SBC Cotton Bowl January 2, 2004 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. Ole Miss won 31-28. (Brian Bahr, Getty Images) Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Archie Manning (18) on the bench against the Kentucky Wildcats at Memorial Stadium, Sept. 26, 1970. (Malcolm Emmons-US PRESSWIRE, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) runs with the ball against the Michigan Wolverines during the first half at Camping World Stadium, Dec. 31, 2025. (Matt Pendleton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) University of Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning, right, talks things over with receiver Andy McCullough during the Florida game in Gainesville, Fla. Sept. 16, 1995. (Michael Patrick/News Sentinel) Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning leaves "The Swamp" with a victory Saturday, October 4, 2003 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville. (Al Messerschmidt, WireImage) Mississippi quarterback Archie Manning (18) looks for a receiver against Vanderbilt. The nationally ranked Ole Miss went on to a 26-16 victory over the Commodores before 34,000 at Dudley Field Oct. 24, 1970. (Robert Johnson / The Tennessean, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect) Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) rushes with the ball for a touchdown against the Michigan Wolverines during the second half at Camping World Stadium, Dec. 31, 2025. (Matt Pendleton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Vols QB Peyton Manning avoids the tackle by UCLA linebacker Weldon Forte on September 6, 1997 at the Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, California. (Harry How, Getty Images) University of Mississippi quarterback Eli Manning (R) greets Oklahoma State Cowboys quarterback Josh Fields after the Rebels defeated the Cowboys 31-28 at the 68th Cotton Bowl Classic in Dallas, Texas, January 2, 2004. Manning passed for 259 yards. (Jeff Mitchell US, REUTERS) Mississippi Rebels former quarterbacks Archie Manning and Eli Manning shake hands before the retirement of Eli's number 10 jersey at Mississippi during half time at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oct. 23, 2021. (Petre Thomas, USA TODAY Sports) Former Tennessee QB Peyton Manning is honored alongside his former college coach Phillip Fulmer before the start of the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks on October 29, 2005 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Streeter Lecka, Getty Images) Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning signals a game-ending touchdown Saturday, October 4, 2003 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville. Old Miss upset the Gators 20 - 17. (Al Messerschmidt, WireImage) Archie Manning, and Arch Manning work a Pre-Manning Passing Academy "Shift" at Raising Cane's Thibodeaux, Louisiana on June 26, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Kaitlyn Morris, Getty Images for Raising Cane's) (L-R) Former Football Quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Eli Manning talk prior to the SEC Championship game between the LSU Tigers and the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 03, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images) 1 / 23 From Archie to Arch, the Mannings are college football QB royalty (L-R) Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, Archie Manning and New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning attends the NERF Father's Day Football Throwdown on June 14, 2008 at Chelsea Piers in New York City. (Astrid Stawiarz, Getty Images) 1 / 23 From Archie to Arch, the Mannings are college football QB royalty (L-R) Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, Archie Manning and New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning attends the NERF Father's Day Football Throwdown on June 14, 2008 at Chelsea Piers in New York City. (Astrid Stawiarz, Getty Images) 2 / 23 From Archie to Arch, the Mannings are college football QB royalty Peyton Manning (left) Eli Manning (center) and Cooper Manning (right) all wearing (18) jerseys honoring the jersey retirement of father and former Ole Miss quarterback Archie Manning (not pictured) in a ceremony at Vaught-Heningway Stadium. (Michael C. Hebert-US PRESSWIRE, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 3 / 23 From Archie to Arch, the Mannings are college football QB royalty Peyton Manning (left), former Ole Miss quarterback Archie Manning (center), Cooper Manning (right) and Eli Manning (far right) on the bench at Vaught-Heningway Stadium. (Michael C. Hebert-USA TODAY Sports, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 4 / 23 From Archie to Arch, the Mannings are college football QB royalty FILE PHOTO; Peyton Manning (left), former Ole Miss quarterback Archie Manning (center) and Cooper Manning (right) during a portrait session at the Manning passing academy in July 1997. (Michael C. Hebert-USA TODAY Sports, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 5 / 23 From Archie to Arch, the Mannings are college football QB royalty Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning leads the Vols' Pride of the Southland Band in a rendition of "Rocky Top" after the No. 3 ranked Volunteers closed out Vanderbilt 17-10 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville Nov. 29, 1997. (Delores Delvin / The Tennessean) 6 / 23 From Archie to Arch, the Mannings are college football QB royalty Eli Manning #10 of the Mississippi Rebels celebrate a 31-28 victory against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the SBC Cotton Bowl on January 2, 2004 in Dallas, Texas. (Ronald Martinez, Getty Images) 7 / 23 From Archie to Arch, the Mannings are college football QB royalty Mississippi Rebels quarterback Archie Manning (18) in action against the Kentucky Wildcats at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, Sept. 26, 1970. (Malcolm Emmons-US PRESSWIRE, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 8 / 23 From Archie to Arch, the Mannings are college football QB royalty Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) looks on after a game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium, Nov. 15, 2025. (Brett Davis, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 9 / 23 From Archie to Arch, the Mannings are college football QB royalty Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning is greeted by Vol mascot Smokey before the Vanderbilt game Nov. 29, 1997, at Neyland Stadium. It was Manning's final home game. (Byron Small/News Sentinel) 10 / 23 From Archie to Arch, the Mannings are college football QB royalty Quarterback Eli Manning #10 of the Mississippi Rebels looks for a receiver against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the first quarter during the SBC Cotton Bowl January 2, 2004 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. Ole Miss won 31-28. (Brian Bahr, Getty Images) 11 / 23 From Archie to Arch, the Mannings are college football QB royalty Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Archie Manning (18) on the bench against the Kentucky Wildcats at Memorial Stadium, Sept. 26, 1970. (Malcolm Emmons-US PRESSWIRE, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 12 / 23 From Archie to Arch, the Mannings are college football QB royalty Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) runs with the ball against the Michigan Wolverines during the first half at Camping World Stadium, Dec. 31, 2025. (Matt Pendleton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 13 / 23 From Archie to Arch, the Mannings are college football QB royalty University of Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning, right, talks things over with receiver Andy McCullough during the Florida game in Gainesville, Fla. Sept. 16, 1995. (Michael Patrick/News Sentinel) 14 / 23 From Archie to Arch, the Mannings are college football QB royalty Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning leaves "The Swamp" with a victory Saturday, October 4, 2003 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville. (Al Messerschmidt, WireImage) 15 / 23 From Archie to Arch, the Mannings are college football QB royalty Mississippi quarterback Archie Manning (18) looks for a receiver against Vanderbilt. The nationally ranked Ole Miss went on to a 26-16 victory over the Commodores before 34,000 at Dudley Field Oct. 24, 1970. (Robert Johnson / The Tennessean, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect) 16 / 23 From Archie to Arch, the Mannings are college football QB royalty Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) rushes with the ball for a touchdown against the Michigan Wolverines during the second half at Camping World Stadium, Dec. 31, 2025. (Matt Pendleton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 17 / 23 From Archie to Arch, the Mannings are college football QB royalty Vols QB Peyton Manning avoids the tackle by UCLA linebacker Weldon Forte on September 6, 1997 at the Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, California. (Harry How, Getty Images) 18 / 23 From Archie to Arch, the Mannings are college football QB royalty University of Mississippi quarterback Eli Manning (R) greets Oklahoma State Cowboys quarterback Josh Fields after the Rebels defeated the Cowboys 31-28 at the 68th Cotton Bowl Classic in Dallas, Texas, January 2, 2004. Manning passed for 259 yards. (Jeff Mitchell US, REUTERS) 19 / 23 From Archie to Arch, the Mannings are college football QB royalty Mississippi Rebels former quarterbacks Archie Manning and Eli Manning shake hands before the retirement of Eli's number 10 jersey at Mississippi during half time at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oct. 23, 2021. (Petre Thomas, USA TODAY Sports) 20 / 23 From Archie to Arch, the Mannings are college football QB royalty Former Tennessee QB Peyton Manning is honored alongside his former college coach Phillip Fulmer before the start of the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks on October 29, 2005 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Streeter Lecka, Getty Images) 21 / 23 From Archie to Arch, the Mannings are college football QB royalty Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning signals a game-ending touchdown Saturday, October 4, 2003 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville. Old Miss upset the Gators 20 - 17. (Al Messerschmidt, WireImage) 22 / 23 From Archie to Arch, the Mannings are college football QB royalty Archie Manning, and Arch Manning work a Pre-Manning Passing Academy "Shift" at Raising Cane's Thibodeaux, Louisiana on June 26, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Kaitlyn Morris, Getty Images for Raising Cane's) 23 / 23 From Archie to Arch, the Mannings are college football QB royalty (L-R) Former Football Quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Eli Manning talk prior to the SEC Championship game between the LSU Tigers and the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 03, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images) Manning, despite his three turnovers in the fourth quarter over the last two weeks, has an impressive 14-5 record as Texas' full-time starter, including a 6-2 record against top-ranked opponents.
That said, with Steve Sarkisian saying he'll "evaluate everything" of the offense after the Florida loss, here's what to know about who Manning's backup is, should the Longhorns make a change under center:
Texas' backup quarterback is KJ Lacey Jr., a sophomore gunslinger who hails from Saraland, Alabama.
As previously noted by USA TODAY High School Sports , Lacey began his high school career at Daphne (AL), where he played six games as a freshman, before transferring to Saraland (AL) and teaming up with future Alabama star wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams.
He chose Texas over the likes of Alabama, Oregon, Auburn and others.
As Manning's backup last season, Lacey Jr. appeared in just one game against Sam Houston State, where he completed one pass for seven yards.
College football picks: Texas tops Ole Miss? Week 8 predictions for Top 25 games
ESPN reported on Oct. 19 that Lacey Jr. would see an increase in first-team reps with the offense as the Longhorns struggle offensively. Sarkisian, speaking to reporters on Monday after that report, said Lacey Jr. didn't get more first-team reps than he normally does in a given week.
Below is a look at Lacey Jr.'s stats this season for Texas:
vs. Texas State: 6-of-7 (85.7%) passing for 55 yards
vs. UTSA: 1-of-1 (100%) passing for eight yards
247Sports' Composite Rankings listed Lacey Jr. as a four-star recruit and the No. 19-ranked quarterback in the 2025 recruiting class.
Be sure to check out USA TODAY Sports' new College Football Unfiltered podcast , hosted by USA TODAY Sports columnist Blake Toppmeyer. You can stream on YouTube or download via Apple podcasts and Spotify .
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Arch Manning's backup? What to know about Texas QB KJ Lacey Jr.
Source: Sports
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