Arch Manning’s much-anticipated debut as a starter with the Texas Longhorns looked like a dud for nearly 57 minutes on Saturday.
Third-ranked Ohio State (1–0) contained Manning all day in a 14–7 victory over the top-ranked Longhorns (0–1) until the first-year starter showed life late. Trying to live up to the storied football family name, Manning fell short amid five completions for 26 yards in the first half and an interception in the third quarter.
Ohio State broke up passes, rushed Manning, and sacked him once. The redshirt sophomore also nearly threw a second interception that got overturned, and Manning came up short on a fourth-down pass play in the end zone from nine yards out.
The defending national champions looked the part at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, and Manning couldn’t produce with the game-changing leadership that his family name has long been known for during the first three quarters. His grandfather, Archie Manning, and uncles, Peyton Manning and Eli Manning, had a combined 81 fourth-quarter comebacks in their NFL careers.
All three were known for their strong arms and poise in the pocket, and two of the three have made the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Arch Manning, the son of Cooper Manning, began drawing interest as a prep quarterback at Isidore Newman in Louisiana. The nationally top-ranked recruit of the 2023 class had a high-profile recruiting process, and he ultimately chose Texas, the team he grew up cheering for.
Manning spent his first two years as a backup on the Longhorns’ depth chart behind Quinn Ewers, now with the Miami Dolphins. Last season, Manning showed promise when he played in place of Ewers, amid a 67.8 percent completion rate on 61–90 passing for 939 yards and nine touchdowns versus two interceptions.
While Manning didn’t look like that for most of Saturday and nearly had two picks in less than one game, he looked like a Manning quarterback for one fourth-quarter scoring drive that gave the Longhorns a chance. Manning led a four-play, 60-yard drive with 4:10 left in the game, and he made the throws reminiscent of his famed family members in the process.
On the first play of that drive, Manning connected with wide receiver Ryan Wingo for 28 yards after that connection had remained dormant for the game. Three plays later, Manning connected with Parker Livingston on a 32-yard touchdown pass, the same receiver Manning couldn’t connect with on a prior scoring attempt earlier in the final quarter.
Texas’ defense delivered a chance to tie the game on the following drive by forcing the Buckeyes into a three-and-out. Manning threatened at first with a 30-yard completion to Jack Endries, but Manning led the team no further than the Buckeyes’ 47-yard line.
After back-to-back incomplete passes, Manning evaded the Buckeyes’ pass rush on fourth down as his options dwindled rapidly. He had to settle for a blanketed Endries for a 3-yard pass as the Buckeyes kept the Longhorns from moving the chains.
Manning finished with 17–30 passing for a 56.7 percent completion rate and 170 yards. He also made a few plays with his legs, amid 38 yards on 10 carries, and Manning had the longest gain of the day for the Longhorns at 15 yards.
Texas will tumble from No. 1 with the loss, and Manning has fallen from Heisman Trophy favorite status and the reported 31 NFL general managers present didn’t see much of what they hoped for. However, Manning and the Longhorns have plenty of football ahead.
Texas has three consecutive home games against Group of Five teams—San Jose State, UTEP, and Sam Houston State—over the next month before SEC play. Manning and company then have four ranked opponents at the moment in conference play.
Depending on what Manning and the Longhorns do with the remaining 11 regular-season games, Texas could take a page out of Ohio State’s 2024 national title run. Ohio State was counted out by many after a regular season-ending loss to Michigan, but the Buckeyes regrouped and dominated the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff.
Texas’ loss and Manning’s dud could follow the team for much of 2025, but Manning could also do what his grandfather and uncles did for their respective teams—turn things around in a short amount of time.
