After a rocky start sparked national scrutiny, Chris Del Conte praises the Longhorns quarterback’s resilience in silencing critics and fueling a dominant late-season surge toward bowl victory.
Chris Del Conte didn't become emotional discussing the numbers Arch Manning produced last season.
Texas’ athletic director was moved by everything the quarterback absorbed before producing them.
Manning entered 2025 as the preseason Heisman Trophy favorite and the new starter for the nation’s No. 1 team. His surname, recruiting profile and two-year wait behind Quinn Ewers created an impossible standard: Texas needed to win immediately, and Manning needed to look spectacular while making it happen.
The opening month provided neither.
Texas lost its opener at Ohio State, Manning threw five interceptions across his first five games and the Longhorns carried a 3-2 record into the Red River Rivalry. The response became predictably unforgiving.
“To see what that young man went through last season, it makes me emotional,” Del Conte said, according to Inside Texas.
Del Conte characterized Manning as being called a “complete flop” throughout the national media before explaining what impressed him most.
“99% of kids would've crumbled,” Del Conte said. “But he never quit, never stopped fighting.”
His description of the criticism may be intentionally broad. Manning certainly had prominent defenders, and struggling during five games didn't make him a failed quarterback.
The scrutiny was still real enough.
Manning’s uneven performances became national events. Every missed throw invited another referendum on his ability, while Texas’ losses threatened to turn an imperfect beginning into the defining story of his first season as the full-time starter.
Then the season changed.
Manning threw 15 touchdown passes against two interceptions over Texas’ final eight games, helping the Longhorns finish 7-1 during that stretch.
He engineered a comeback from 17 points down at Mississippi State, accounted for six touchdowns against Arkansas and closed the year with 376 total yards and four scores in a 41-27 Citrus Bowl victory over Michigan.
His final line — 3,163 passing yards, 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions — looked respectable for any first-year starter.
The route he took to reach it mattered more.
Manning experienced failure without being permitted to process it privately.
He disappointed a fan base expecting a national championship, endured questions about whether he had been dramatically overrated and continued playing until the conversation changed.
That response doesn't guarantee Texas will reach the College Football Playoff this season. Manning must become more consistent, particularly against the elite defenses the Longhorns will encounter in SEC play.
It does provide Del Conte with a reason to believe adversity won't overwhelm his quarterback.
Texas begins its season Sept. 5 against Texas State. The expectations surrounding Manning will return with it.
This time ... everyone knows what happens when he fails to meet them immediately.
