During the lead-up to the Sugar Bowl in late 2023, the Texas Longhorns held a media day to build anticipation for their matchup against the Washington Huskies. Their starting quarterback, Quinn Ewers, held the keys to the program at the time, but his backup, Arch Manning, had the reporters’ attention. Even on the bench, the spotlight landed on Manning.
In 2024, Manning dazzled the football world with a series of starts while Ewers recovered from an oblique injury. When the team routed the UTSA Roadrunners in a 56–7 blowout, fans and reporters alike speculated a swift rise for Manning. This excitement has only grown as Manning steps up in the program after Ewers was drafted in the seventh round by the Miami Dolphins.
The Manning family name certainly carries weight, but Arch has also earned some of the publicity. The son of Cooper and the nephew of Peyton and Eli, Arch Manning grew up with football royalty and shined at Isidore Newman School in New Orleans. As a 5-star recruit and the number one player in his class, Manning committed to Texas and to developing his game under Head Coach Steve Sarkisian, turning down offers from powerhouses like Georgia, Alabama, and Clemson.
As soon as the red and white confetti fell on Ohio State during the Longhorn–Buckeye semifinal matchup in 2025, Texas turned the page and entered the Arch Manning era. The Longhorns, who have improved each year under Sarkisian, readied to embrace their new starter.
Expectations and accolades quickly rolled in as the Longhorns anticipated a bright future. Texas entered the 2025 season ranked as the No. 1 team in the country, and Arch Manning came in as the preseason Heisman favorite. Manning was supposed to march Texas into The Shoe and lead the Longhorns to a Week 1 win, avenging their season-ending defeat.
“I think [it is] a lot of undeserved attention,” Manning said of the preseason pressure he faces, adding, “Hopefully it gets more deserving in the next few months.”
The long-awaited season kicked off last Saturday in Columbus as Longhorns fans hoped for a second chance against the defending semifinalists. The Longhorns’ latest gun-slinger headed up the No. 3 team in the country as north of 100,000 fans packed The Shoe.
Longhorns fans were in for a disappointing day. Manning completed only 17 of 30 passes, generating a measly 170 yards in the air and stalling any hopes for a high-scoring clash.
It became clear that Manning was out of sync when he threw behind his top receiver, Ryan Wingo, which led to a tip drill that was picked off by Jermaine Matthews. By the time Manning finally found his groove in the fourth quarter and connected with Parker Livingstone for his lone touchdown pass of the afternoon, it was too late. Texas’ comeback fell short, and the final offensive sequence saw Manning miss Wingo wide open over the middle of the field.
Two things can be true at once. On one hand, Manning’s performance was disappointing, as his Longhorns mustered only seven points against the Buckeyes. Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, another former top quarterback recruit, outplayed Manning, showcasing poise while carrying out a relatively conservative gameplan. Unlike Manning, the Buckeyes’ starter did not turn the ball over en route to a 14–7 win.
On the other hand, Saturday was a perfect storm for critics. On the road in a hostile environment, Manning went up against Ohio State, the defending national champions, and their shutdown defense.
The Buckeyes lost Defensive Coordinator Jim Knowles this offseason to their rival Penn State, but Head Coach Ryan Day seems to have found the perfect replacement. Matt Patricia kept Manning on his heels and uncomfortable throwing the ball downfield against a synced-up Buckeyes secondary. Patricia’s defense is anchored by safety Caleb Downs, one of the best players in the country, and linebacker Sonny Styles, who flew all over the field against Texas.
In this context, the expectations placed on Manning’s shoulders were clearly far too high. The road atmosphere and the suffocating Ohio State defense were bound to create challenges for Manning, and the heavy Heisman mantle generated premature expectations.
As Texas prepares to face three unranked opponents at home, Manning will have the chance to settle in and play more aggressively. Both Texas and Ohio State deserve credit for playing Saturday’s game and getting the season off to a phenomenal start. In taking the risk of playing a top-10 game instead of an easy season opener, Manning ultimately didn’t deliver. As the season continues, however, Manning will look to find his footing and move past this defeat.
