Arch Manning Struggles in Season Opener Against Ohio State

Arch Manning had a challenging start to the 2025 college football season as the Texas Longhorns faced off against the Ohio State Buckeyes, the defending national champions. It was a tough game on Saturday afternoon, and Manning seemed to have difficulty decoding the Buckeyes’ defense.

He completed 17 out of 30 passes for just 170 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. It wasn’t until late in the game that he managed to throw a touchdown pass to Parker Livingston, helping to reduce the score somewhat. Despite this achievement, Texas fell short, losing 14-7.

The young quarterback expressed his disappointment post-game, noting, “It took too long to get the ball down onto the field.” He acknowledged that it was a team effort and emphasized, “It starts with me. … They’re a good team, but I thought we’d beat ourselves a lot. We have to play better to win.”

Texas held possession for over 27 minutes, outgaining Ohio State in total yards, 336 to 215. However, they struggled in the red zone, failing to convert crucial opportunities as they turned the ball over when it mattered most.

In defense of Manning, head coach Steve Sarkisian commented on Ohio State’s robust defensive strategies. “They have good plans,” he noted. “They had a very smart secondary and they made it tough for us.” Sarkisian believed Manning had the potential to regroup and learn from the game.

Looking ahead, Texas is hoping to bounce back next week against San Jose State, while Ohio State is set to play Grambling.