Against what some might consider a lesser opponent, Arch Manning had a standout performance. He completed 11 of 18 passes for 180 yards, with four touchdowns and one interception in the first half against San Jose State at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.
His first touchdown was an impressive 83-yard pass to Parker Livingston.
The Longhorns held a 28-7 lead at halftime, a stark contrast to their previous week’s game where they lost to Ohio State, 14-7. In that matchup, Manning struggled, completing just 17 of 30 passes for 170 yards while dealing with touchdowns and interceptions.
Most of his better performances came during a late-game push when Texas was down by two scores, but that defeat dropped them from the top spot in preseason rankings to seventh place. With his family’s NFL legacy, Manning certainly faces high expectations. He is the nephew of Eli and Peyton Manning, and the grandson of Archie Manning, all of whom made their marks in the league.
Interestingly, he was the top recruit in the 2023 class, which adds even more pressure. “I’m aiming for a high standard,” he reflected after the Ohio State game. “I knew I had to improve, lead better, and help our team perform well. In the end, it just wasn’t enough.”
Head coach Steve Sarkisian mentioned that Manning learned valuable lessons from the previous week’s game. “There were moments where we needed to connect on specific routes, and it seemed like he wasn’t exactly where he wanted to be. It’s all part of finding that comfort level in live games, which can be quite different.” He added, “He definitely learned something important.”
