Arch Manning or Steve Sarkisian? Matt Steigerwald has plenty to say about where the blame belongs when Texas struggles, and his patience with the quarterback is wearing thin.
In the latest Barber Ball Banter, Steigerwald and Louis Darrouzet II work through their frustration with the Longhorns, defend the value of coaching and revisit a running back argument neither seems ready to surrender.
Steigerwald and Darrouzet recorded the episode after Texas lost to Oklahoma on October 10 and before the Longhorns hosted Florida on October 17. Florida then beat Texas 27-24 in Austin, dropping the Longhorns to 4-2. Manning lost a late fumble that allowed the Gators to run out the clock, Texas Athletics reported.
Arch, Sark and accountability
Steigerwald said he has spent years defending Manning, but the Oklahoma performance tested that loyalty.
“It’s really hard to defend him right now,” Steigerwald said in the episode.
His frustration did not translate into a call to fire Sarkisian. Instead, he argued that preparation only goes so far if players fail to make reads, run routes and finish plays.
“It is on the athletes to go out and execute,” Steigerwald said.
He also questioned what Texas would gain by rushing to replace its coach and argued that the Longhorns have enough talent to compete if they stop making costly mistakes.
“I think that there’s no team that Texas can’t beat. But the problem is Texas consistently beats itself,” he said.
Fantasy wins and familiar arguments
There was better news in fantasy football: Steigerwald celebrated his first win of the season. That did little to settle his ongoing disagreement with Darrouzet over Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs.
Steigerwald again favored Robinson. Darrouzet backed Gibbs, continuing a debate from their earlier episode.
The conversation also covered Cowboys frustration, college prospects and North Texas high school football, with Allen and North Crowley among the programs drawing attention.
Watch the full episode above for their takes on Manning, Sarkisian and the football arguments that keep following them back to the barber chair.
