History has a tendency to repeat itself, and Texas fans are witnessing it firsthand with the play of quarterback Arch Manning.
It was just a season ago when Manning was tumbling down projected draft boards following disappointing early-season showings against Ohio State and Florida. The Longhorns fell to 3-2 and head coach Steve Sarkisian was making public statements in defense of his quarterback. The questions surrounding Manning were growing louder.
Then, following a Week 8 game against Kentucky, everything changed.
Manning’s season began to take off as he settled into a rhythm and showcased his confidence and command of the offense. He finished his junior year with wins over in-state rival Texas A&M and Michigan in the Citrus Bowl, restoring confidence in his ability to lead the Longhorns to a future national championship.
Fast-forward to this season, and the familiar narrative is unfolding again.
Following back-to-back losses last month to Oklahoma and, ironically, Florida, concerns about Manning’s ability to live up to his name came back to the forefront.
After the Longhorns’ 27-24 loss to Florida, Sarkisian said “everything is going to be evaluated.” When asked about a potential quarterback change, Sarkisian doubled down: “Everything means everything.” Then came a report that backup quarterback KJ Lacey would receive more first-team reps during practice the following week.
Sitting at 4-2, with their College Football Playoff hopes already in jeopardy, Manning gutted out a tough win over then-No. 10 Ole Miss, breathing life into what was starting to look like a lost season for Texas.
Now, the Longhorns have won three straight, and Manning has accounted for nine touchdowns during that stretch. The improvement has been noticeable.Â
Manning is getting through his progressions more quickly, with an average time to throw of 2.76 seconds over the last three games â nearly a half-second faster than earlier in the season. That has been a big development. His footwork also looks cleaner and more efficient.
Check out this beauty:
Or how about this one:
After throwing for more than 200 yards just three times in his first six games this season, Manning has now eclipsed that mark in three consecutive weeks.
In a world that often lacks patience, we tend to forget that this was an offense replacing five starters from a year ago, with a recruiting class that included more transfer portal additions than any other during Sarkisian’s tenure. This offense was always going to take time to come together, and unfortunately, Manning has borne the brunt of the blame.
That isn’t to deflect from Manning’s inconsistencies. There’s no doubt he’s forced some throws and appeared lost at times while waiting for receivers to separate downfield. The offensive line has been inconsistent and struggled to protect him. The run game has also dealt with injuries and is averaging one fewer first down per game, which brings up another point: Manning is running less.
Maybe that’s a conscious effort to become more comfortable playing from the pocket, but he’s averaging 20 fewer rushing yards per game than he did a year ago. And remember, this was a Texas offense that featured a special package specifically designed to take advantage of Manning’s athleticism during the Quinn Ewers era in 2024.
Having played quarterback, I know the spotlight is always on you. When things are going well, everyone wants to talk about you. When things aren’t going well, everyone wants to talk about you even more. Manning understands that, and given the name on the back of his jersey, he’s prepared to handle it.Â
After slow starts in back-to-back seasons, he’s been able to block out the noise and rebound, giving his team a shot at the CFP.
This week will be Manning’s toughes
