Through the first three games of Arch Manning’s highly anticipated first year as the starting quarterback of the Texas Longhorns, many have been disappointed. Manning was a top favorite to win the Heisman Award before the season started, but after underperforming in the first three weeks, many have questioned the passer’s overall ability.
Now, less than two weeks away from the start of SEC play, the 2-1 Texas will soon enter the toughest stretch of the season, and have yet to see their quarterback play like the prospect many expected him to be.
Speaking at a press conference, Manning addressed the criticism directly, vowing to be better after a slow first quarter of the 2025 season.
“I know the type of player that I am,” Manning said two days after the Longhorns beat UTEP 27-10. “I know I’m going to play better and we’re going to be better as an offense.”
Manning has 579 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions on 55.3% passing through three weeks of the 2025 college football season.
Manning Addressed His Struggles
Texas beat its last two opponents, San Jose State and the University of Texas-El Paso, by a combined 48 points, yet many believed the Longhorns should have looked stronger against the two programs.
After their opening loss to Ohio State, Manning has yet to bounce back and put together a performance that both Texas fans and the media have seen as living up to his preseason hype.
“It’s frustrating because I know I’m better than that,” Manning said. “But you know, we’re going to be better this week and get clicking on offense. I’m excited to get going.”
After recent injury rumors stemming from a broadcast camera picking up Manning grimacing after making a throw in their Week 2 game, the quarterback was asked if his struggles have been mental or physical.
“Probably mental, to be honest,” Manning said.”I think I just need to go out there and play my game. I know the type of athlete and the type of player I am. I just need to go cut it loose and have some fun.”
Manning was near the top of many SEC quarterback rankings to begin the season, but his play compared to that of his passing counterparts around the conference has led to him dropping in recent rankings lists. Despite that, Manning said he talked to Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and believes he’ll turn the corner soon.
“I talked to coach yesterday, we had a really good talk,” Manning said. “Then, just leaning on my family and people in my close corner. And my faith, obviously.”
Texas Head Coach Remains Confident
Despite the struggles for a school with high expectations every start of the college football season, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian remains confident in Manning going forward. Sarkisian believes the struggles seen by his quarterback early will help him as the season goes on.
“Here’s a guy who’s had an awesome life, the way he’s grown up, the people he’s been surrounded by,” Sarkisian said. “I think you learn a lot about yourself through adversity and overcoming adversity. … When he gets on the other side of it, I think all of this is going to serve well not only for him, but for us as a team.”
While the final score of the Longhorns’ last two games might tell a certain story, Manning and the Texas offense have yet to match the play of the team’s defense, which remains dominant early in the season.
After Manning went 11/25 passing for 114 yards, a touchdown, and an interception against UTEP, Sarkisian thinks he is on the brink of a breakthrough.
“We missed a few things in the passing game, and it was like, ‘We’re so close,’” Sarkisian said Monday. “And part of me is really excited about that, because I know how close we are to this thing hitting on all cylinders. That’s our job, as coaches and as players, to get us to that point. And I believe we will.”
Manning also ran for 51 yards and two touchdowns in the game versus UTEP, but the lasting storyline was his lack of accuracy against the Conference USA defense. His rushing numbers in general have been strong his entire college career, but the accuracy remains the bigger discussion point.
The Longhorns play Sam Houston State in Week 4 before SEC play begins the week after.
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