Texas Coach on Arch Manning’s Performance

For Texas’ Steve Sarkisian, first impressions aren’t everything. This is particularly relevant when discussing Arch Manning. The grandson of Archie and nephew of Eli and Peyton made his debut as the starting quarterback on Saturday as the team kicked off the 2025 season.

While his performance left something to be desired, Sarkisian believes that Manning has much more to offer throughout the season. “Expectations were sky-high from outside sources. I’ll reserve my judgment until I’ve seen more. This is just one chapter,” the head coach remarked.

Before his first start, Manning faced immense expectations stemming from his family legacy. He had patiently waited two years for this chance, resisting the lure of the transfer portal. His presence significantly contributed to Texas being ranked first in the preseason for the first time ever.

Manning completed 17 passes out of 17 attempts for 170 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception. Overall, it was a rather unsteady performance, and in light of the hype surrounding him as a top Heisman Trophy contender and projected number one NFL Draft pick, this inconsistency was notable.

The game ended in a 14-7 loss for Texas. It’s worth mentioning that Ohio State has a notoriously strong defense, and playing at Ohio Stadium can be challenging for any newcomer.

Looking ahead, Manning is anticipated to perform better against what some might consider easier opponents. As Texas prepares to face San Jose State and UTEP over the next couple of weeks, it’s clear that early-season experiments will be vital, especially with emerging star quarterbacks in the mix.

“He showed some flashes that suggest we’re starting to see what he can do,” Sarkisian noted, indicating there’s a lot more to consider about Manning’s future.