Kirk Herbstreit adds Arch Manning twist to critique of Steve Sarkisians disastrous Texas play call

Kirk Herbstreit said he wasn’t second-guessing Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian about one fourth-quarter play call, but it sure sounded like it.And the ESPN analyst wasn’t alone after the Longhorns came up short in a 28-14 loss to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff semifinals that cost Texas a chance to play for the national championship.The play in question came on a second-and-goal from the one-yard line with just over three minutes left in the fourth quarter and Texas trailing by a touchdown.After Jerrick Gibson was stopped for no gain on a rush attempt on a first and goal from the one, Sarkisian went to a pitch play to running Quintrevion Wisner, who was tackled for a 7-yard loss.Following an incomplete pass by Quinn Ewers, Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer strip-sacked Ewers and ran it back for a game-clinching 83-yard score.Asked about the ill-fated pitch after the game, Herbrstreit — who called the game on ESPN — noted that the Longhorns should have considered using Arch Manning in the short-yardage situation, as they had earlier in the game.“I’m not ever going to second guess any head coach, especially a guy like [Sarkisian], who works so hard at that,’’ Herbrstreit said.“But I thought you might see the wrinkle [of] Arch come in in that situation, with his ability to run.

Maybe a zone read, maybe get him on the edge.Again, I’m not going to second-guess him, but that wide sweep with Ohio State’s defense, as fast-flowing as they are led by Caleb Downs, that was a tough one to go to.

They tried to catch them napping and didn’t get it.”Sarkisian stood by his decisions after the game.“When we got down to the one, we went to a heavy package, which is Jerrick’s package,’’ Sarkisian said.“We ran it, and we obviously didn’t get much movement at all.

And we had a plan to try to get the ball on the edge when we got down there.They went to big people.

I can’t quite tell, it was on the far side of where it got leaky...