More than Arch Manning will define Texas QB success in 2026

AUSTIN, TEXAS - APRIL 18: KJ Lacey Jr. #9 of the Texas Longhorns looks to throw a pass during the Texas Spring Football Game at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on April 18, 2026 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Scott Wachter/Getty Images for ONIT) *** KJ Lacey Jr. | Getty Images for ONIT

The Texas Longhorns have high hopes and higher expectations heading into the 2026 season.

Texas is clearly going all-in for the season, spending big money to add the missing pieces to the offense around returning starting quarterback Arch Manning — the Longhorns added two of the top running backs in the portal, at least one starter along the offensive line, and perhaps the biggest receiving threat in the country in Cam Coleman.

All of this to put the right pieces around Manning for a title run in what most presume to be his final season on the Forty Acres.

Heading into the 2025 season, expectations were sky high for the signal caller heading into his first season as the starter, perhaps unfairly so. Those expectations came crashing back down after he struggled in the marquee season opener on the road against Ohio State, at home against UTEP, and again in the loss to Florida to open SEC play, two early-season kill shots to Texas’ chances at a third consecutive berth in the College Football Playoff.

Then, at the halfway point of the season, Manning’s play shifted, as well as the offensive line composition, and he looked more like the quarterback everyone expected him to be. Gallons of digital ink have already been spilled about Manning, his expectations, and how it can propel the Longhorns in 2026, but perhaps the most intriguing quarterback conversation is about who will back him up.

While Manning didn’t miss a start due to injury last year — the first time since the COVID-shortened 2020 season that Texas had the same starting quarterback in every game — Matthew Caldwell did have to come in for several high-leverage moments, tossing the game-winning touchdown to Emmet Mosley in overtime against Mississippi State when Manning left the game due to a concussion and also completing a pass against Florida as Texas tried to mount a late comeback.

Consensus five-star quarterback Dia Bell is the heir apparent to Manning after stepping on campus last January, following a prep career that ended with the Florida product ranked as a top-20 player in the country. Bell has all of the tools that you would want from a starter in head coach Steve Sarkisian’s offense, an elite deep ball, great ability to read the field, and can use his feet when necessary.

“He is a natural passer of the football. He has a great feel for the game” Sarkisian said on National Signing Day. “He’s a football junkie. He’s a sport junkie. He works out. He works his tail off and so I just think his leadership, his personality, his ability, but probably most importantly, his competitive spirit, are things that we’re definitely very excited about.”

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There is, however, one thing that Bell lacks that Sarkisian clearly values from anyone taking snaps for him — experience.

While he enrolled early, Bell missed most of his senior season with an injury and was slowed during spring practice after he enrolled at Texas, receiving limited reps during the spring-ending open practice due to a minor ankle injury. A year ago, Texas went into the portal and Caldwell to fill in the experienced backup role behind Manning, but it seems like Sarkisian and quarterbacks coach AJ Milwee will turn to redshirt freshman KJ Lacey to take on the role in 2026 after luring the top-200 quarterback from Alabama.

Lacey is no slouch in the backfield himself, passing for 9,667 yards and 122 touchdowns in his three seasons with Saraland, a run that includes three trips to the state championship, with one win.

“He’s a gamer,” Sarkisian said about Lacy when asked about the backups following Mannings injury in 2025. “He has a natural feel in the pocket and anticipating throws. He uses his legs really well. I feel like the more this guy grows within our system, he’s going to really elevate his game and he continues to grow and that’s what he’s done.”

A consistent theme for Sarkisian with Lacey is that the 6’0, 188-pounder has earned the “gamer” reputation because he improves as practices move from routes on air to more game-like situations like team periods or scrimmages.

It showed up during the open practice with a touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Daylan McCutcheon that was well placed at the front pylon.

What a Throw from KJ Lacey to Daylan McCutcheon! 🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/MxzjD31Q56

— Orangebloods.com (@orangebloods_) April 18, 2026

Earlier in the practice, during 7-on-7 drills, Lacey found early enrollee wide receiver Jermaine Bishop up the seam for a 40-yard touchdown.

The consistent comparison for Lacey is former Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, the Heisman Trophy winner in 2021 — Milwee made it at the Peach Bowl Media Day when asked about Lacey by Burnt Orange Nation, former Texas wide receiver Parker Livingstone made it last October, and Sarkisian made it at SEC Media Days.

“I think he would be a dangerous guy this fall if get in the game,” Sarkisian said .

There was also a Caldwell-like signing with the addition of redshirt senior quarterback MJ Morris, like Caldwell a journeyman with previous stops at NC State, Maryland, and Coastal Carolina. Unlike Caldwell, who looked capable in his limited opportunities, Morris struggled during the open practice after arriving on the Forty Acres with a career 58.1-percent completion percentage and a 20-to-15 touchdown-to-interception ratio. The 4.8-percent interception rate is particularly concerning as it relates to the decision making by Morris over 320 career passes.

For Texas in 2026, the goal is clearly titles or bust, and that rests on the skill and continued progression of Manning. But in a grueling SEC schedule in a punishing sport, a backup ...

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