Arch Manning Turns ‘Flop’ Label Into Texas Championship Fuel

Arch Manning arrived at SEC Media Days carrying something more valuable than another offseason of hype ... proof that he can survive when the football world turns on him.

The Texas Longhorns quarterback entered 2025 marketed as college football’s next phenomenon, struggled early and was quickly branded a “flop.”

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Instead of fighting every critic, Manning kept working. By season’s end, he’d transformed from an easy national punchline into the leader of a Texas offense with legitimate 2026 championship expectations.

“I’m not really worried about the outside world,” Manning said. “That’s what I’ll continue to try to do.”

That approach worked last fall.

Manning completed 248 of 404 passes for 3,163 yards, 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions across 13 starts. He added 10 rushing scores and even caught a touchdown. More importantly, Texas finished 7-1 down the stretch, losing only at Georgia.

Steve Sarkisian said Manning produced roughly 20 touchdowns with only two turnovers during that closing run.

“He came out and played the second half of the season at a really high level,” Sarkisian said.

Now the forgiving part is over.

Manning enters his second full season as Texas’ starter facing Ohio State, Tennessee, Oklahoma, LSU and Texas A&M.

The Week 2 rematch with Ohio State offers an immediate test after Manning called last year’s meeting a “rough game” that continues to motivate him.

He’ll have more help this time.

Auburn transfer Cam Coleman gives Texas a potentially devastating outside weapon, and Manning said their relationship has grown through extra throwing sessions, additional meetings and time together away from football.

“He always wants to throw, he always wants to meet extra,” Manning said.

Manning also sounded noticeably more comfortable discussing the chaos surrounding him. He’ll play at Neyland Stadium, return to his native Louisiana for a showdown with LSU and revisit Kyle Field for the Lone Star Showdown.

His former roommate, Parker Livingstone, will even be wearing Oklahoma colors.

None of it seemed to shake him.

“I think going through those rough times, I learned a lot about myself,” Manning said. “I’ve become a better man because of it and hopefully a better player.”

The Manning name created impossible expectations before Arch ever became Texas’ starter. Last season taught him that neither praise nor ridicule can complete a pass.

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Now he gets to determine the conversation himself.

The SEC spent last year waiting for Manning to fail. This season, it may have to deal with what that failure created.