Arch Manning says growth, faith and patience shaped his 2025 jump as Texas’ young quarterback enters a defining season with swagger and focus.
Texas quarterback Arch Manning sounds a lot less like a player trying to survive the spotlight and a lot more like one ready to own it.
After an uneven start to the 2025 season, the Louisiana native settled in late, showing real flashes against Texas A&M and Michigan in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.
Now, entering a huge year for the Longhorns, Manning isn’t hiding from the noise. He’s learning how to tune it out.
At the annual Manning Passing Academy, Manning opened up about what changed during his first season as Texas’ starter. It wasn’t some magic mechanical fix or a secret quarterback lab breakthrough. It was simpler than that.
“I think just trying to be myself and, uh, and not chase everything,” Manning said.
“Let the game come to me and have some fun out there. I think just not chasing validation, being yourself. I think growing in my faith has helped me a lot. Really just being yourself and you know you can't really care what other people think.”
That’s the kind of answer Texas fans should love. Manning spent much of last season carrying one of the heaviest names in college football while trying to lead one of the sport’s loudest brands. Early on, it looked messy. Later, it looked dangerous.
Now comes the next step: turning potential into weekly punishment.
Manning also joked about his offseason body change after foot surgery, admitting he climbed to 235 pounds before trimming back down.
“I had a little foot surgery,” Manning said. “I got a little big. I got up to 235. So I lost a little bit. I was getting a little fat.”
The personality is starting to show, too. Asked who controls the locker room music, Manning didn’t exactly paint himself as the team’s hype DJ.
“Depends. Depends on the day,” Manning said. “I was playing some Olivia Dean on Friday. I don't know if the guys liked it or not.”
The family storyline isn’t going away, either. Manning said he worked with Peyton Manning’s son, Marshall, during a drill and plans to help him more.
But at Texas, Arch is no longer just the younger Manning. He’s becoming the older voice.
He also praised new offensive guard Laurence Seymore, calling him “a pro mindset” player and “a serious dude,” while describing Texas’ offensive transfers as “A-plus guys and A-plus workers.”
MORE:
Manning knows 2025 wasn’t perfect. He called it “a little bit of a rocky start,” but that’s what makes 2026 so interesting. The awkward stage may be over.
If Arch Manning really has stopped chasing validation, college football might have a problem. Texas doesn’t need him to be famous. It needs him to be fearless.
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