Steve Sarkisian: Arch Manning serving as backup QB has been 'pretty simple for him'

DALLAS – After Steve Sarkisian finished his opening remarks at SEC media days – which included a shout-out to his former boss and mentor Nick Saban sitting in the back of the room and declaring that this year's Longhorns team is "probably the most talented team we've had in my four years here, I can unequivocally say that" – the Texas coach took questions.

The first one was about Arch Manning. 

There aren't a lot of teams out there where backups get this much attention. But then again, there aren't a lot of teams out there that have backups with famous last names.

Sarkisian was asked what the conversation was like with Manning and his family when reality sunk in that the former five-star quarterback would have to sit on the bench for a second straight year. When starter Quinn Ewers decided to put off the NFL Draft a little bit longer and return to Texas for a third season, that became Manning's reality.

But it wasn't as big of a deal as many might think.

"We've been fortunate to coach some pretty good quarterbacks," Sarkisian said Wednesday. "We've been fortunate to do it for some decades now. We've been fortunate to have some really good quarterback rooms. And I think the Manning family is pretty well aware of that.

"I think they trained Arch to try to put himself in the best position to try to play in the best conference in America and then, ultimately, put himself in the best position to further his career playing in the National Football League. I think Arch's development has been important to the family and he's reaping the benefit of those things. It hasn't been very difficult at all. I think it's been pretty simple for him."

Ever since Manning committed to the Longhorns in June 2022, he's been the most popular