Steve Sarkisian pulled the plug on the spring game, but the Texas football hype machine? That thing’s still cranked to eleven. Sark’s squad is making noise, whether he wants them to or not. After all those tampering whispers, Texas went full Nebraska and axed the spring scrimmage. You can bet that gut-punch loss to the Buckeyes and missing the playoff finale had something to do with keeping everyone healthy. But no time for tears in Austin—they’re locked in on a championship chase. No more Quinn Ewers under center; it’s Arch Manning’s show now. And word around campus is Sarkisian’s got a three-headed offensive beast brewing that’s going to leave defenses scratching their heads.

Looking ahead, Texas will be hitting the practice field three times a week for the next five weeks, all leading up to a fan appreciation day on April 26th, which will take the place of the traditional spring game. Right now, three names are shining bright in the wide receiver room: Parker Livingstone, Ryan Wingo, and DeAndre Moore Jr. With Isaiah Bond and Matthew Golden now chasing their NFL dreams, the pressure is on these younger guys to step up and become reliable targets. And according to Jeff Howe of On Texas Football, they’re certainly making a strong case.

As Howe noted, “From what we heard—and I only say this is because I said going into spring, look, if the Parker Livingstone hype if it’s anywhere close to what it’s been, then Texas might really have something. That was one of the first names we heard about when we started hear about practice nuggets today.” The early buzz is particularly strong around the connection forming between freshman Parker Livingstone and quarterback Arch Manning, who have reportedly already linked up for at least two touchdown receptions in practice.

Livingstone’s talent was evident back in 2022 when he hauled in 52 catches for an impressive 908 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging a stellar 17.4 yards per catch and leading Lovejoy to the Texas 5A D-II playoffs. This past success is setting an optimistic tone for the Texas offense this season.

Discussing the potential impact of Ryan Wingo and DeAndre Moore Jr., co-host CJ Vogel highlighted their consistent performance, saying, “Yeah, absolutely, and it’s been what we’ve heard for the last three practices, right? You know, since spring ball began, Parker Livingstone is a constant name, and I don’t know what that wide receiving rotation might look like, but I know Parker Livingstone is going to be a part of it. He’s getting right there with Ryan Wingo in terms of starters for this group with DeAndre Moore.” Among the three, Ryan Wingo could be Steve Sarkisian’s top priority, given his familiarity with the team’s offensive system, where he previously recorded 29 receptions for 472 yards.

DeAndre Moore Jr. has also been in the headlines, though he hasn’t been participating in spring drills due to an injury. However, his production last year, with 39 receptions for 456 yards, underscores his value to the team. But with Moore sidelined, Ryan Wingo stands as the only receiver in that group who has recorded a reception in their college football career. While the wide receiver room seems to be gaining momentum, there’s another storyline brewing…..

The ups and downs of Arch Manning’s ESPN ranking

Arch Manning’s ESPN rankings appear to be dropping rapidly. It looks like the pressure is starting to mount on Steve Sarkisian from multiple angles. Somehow many believe that the young Manning will shape Texas’ future this season. So, when a talent like him fails to receive the expected recognition, it naturally draws attention. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg revealed his top 15 quarterbacks for 2025 on March 27th.

Many fans anticipated Manning would be ranked among the elite, especially considering his perceived potential. However, to the surprise of many, Rittenberg placed him outside the top 10, citing consultations with “experts.” Despite Manning’s impressive stats from last season—939 passing yards and 9 touchdowns in 10 games—ESPN, a major voice in sports journalism, ranked him at No. 12, a decision that certainly raised eyebrows and sparked considerable debate among fans and analysts who felt it was a significant snub.

The backlash against ESPN’s initial ranking was swift and vocal. Fans and analysts didn’t hold back in their criticism of the perceived slight. In what appeared to be a rapid damage control effort, ESPN quickly pivoted. Responding to the clear demand for Manning-related content, they released an 18-minute highlight reel on March 29th. The video was accompanied by the caption: “Check out these highlights from Arch Manning during the 2024-25 college football season as many are already calling him a Heisman favorite for the 2025 season.”

The footage showcased Manning making impressive plays against Colorado State, UTSA, and Mississippi State, although the highlights also subtly acknowledged that Georgia proved to be a challenging opponent for Texas in their matchups. The upcoming 2025 season carries immense significance for the Manning legacy, and the spotlight will undoubtedly be on Arch to see if he can live up to the considerable hype. However, the seemingly contradictory actions of ESPN—initially ranking him outside the top 10 only to then promote him as a potential Heisman contender—present a puzzling aspect to this ongoing narrative.

Manning seems to be making his case with how he’s performing in practice, while Sarkisian’s been grinding to build a team that can really compete for the natty, hoping to silence the critics.