Even when he was still in high school, it felt like Arch Manning was already destined for college football stardom and the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft as soon as he was eligible.
But instead of leaving school early this year, Manning will still be on campus in Austin this fall, with an opportunity to gain more experience before making the early jump to the pros.
And it's a good thing, because there's still plenty of work to be done before he's ready to be a successful starter against NFL defenses.
The talent is obviously undeniable with Manning, as are the bloodlines. As both a passer and a runner, we've seen flashes of the high-end ability that surely has NFL teams thrilled about the prospect of making him the face of their franchise. Manning's combination of physical traits give him the kind of well-rounded skill set the modern NFL requires of franchise passers.
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But after waiting his turn behind Quinn Ewers, Manning's first season as the Longhorns' full-time starter was full of inconsistencies, proving it takes more than raw talent and a famous name to find success at the highest levels of the game.
Manning struggled at times with accuracy, ball placement and decision-making, especially early in the season. From skipping short throws to open receivers, to turning the ball over against seemingly inferior opponents, the first half of Manning's 2025 campaign left much to be desired.
The most concerning performance from Manning came in his third game of the season, when he completed just 11 of his 25 pass attempts (44 percent) for 114 yards, one touchdown and one interception. His rushing skills saved the day (51 yards, two scores) in a 27-10 victory, but his struggles as a passer were frustrating to watch.
A month later, on the road against Kentucky, Manning once again struggled through the air, completed just 12 of 27 passes (44.4 percent) for 132 yards, avoiding turnovers but also failing to find the end zone in any way. He didn't move the needle on the ground this time, either, officially finishing the day with minus-1 yard on 11 rushing attempts in a 16-13 overtime win.
The good news? Manning started to look like a completely different player throughout much of the second half of the season, putting up some impressive numbers and scoring multiple wins against top-10 opponents. He saved his best for last, carving up Michigan through the air and on the ground (221 yards and two touchdowns passing, 155 yards and two touchdowns rushing, no interceptions) in a bowl game victory to finish the year.
It's now up to Manning to pick up where he left off at the end of last season, building on that success and showing NFL scouts a more polished, consistent performer who can be counted on to deliver sound mechanics, smart decision-making, and the ability to throw the ball with accuracy and anticipation to all levels of the field while making the right pre-snap reads and post-snap adjustments and reading/processing opposing defenses efficiently.
Manning should benefit from a talented supporting cast that now features Cam Coleman at wide receiver, one of the most highly sought-after players in the transfer portal this offseason.
Everything he needs is there, but it's up to Manning to make the most of all of it and deliver on the hype this fall before moving on to the NFL next April.
