Arch Manning and the Texas Longhorns went into Neyland Stadium and got a big win over the Tennessee Volunteers today. But a very strong case can be made that Texas won that game in spite of Manning, not because of him, and one draft analyst is starting to sour on him completely.
Manning finished today’s game 14 of 19 for 201 yards and an interception. He didn’t contribute any rushing yards and was sacked a whopping six times.
Though if it’s any consolation for Manning, that may be more a testament to the Vols defense than any flaws with his own game. The run game didn’t exactly get a ton of traction either as starter Raleek Brown averaged less than four yards per carry despite scoring both of the Longhorns’ touchdowns.
Nevertheless, longtime NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein came away from the draft noting that Manning’s inability to execute head coach Steve Sarkisian’s gameplans are concerning. He found that “nothing really comes easily or is fluid” in contrast to Manning’s predecessor Quinn Ewers.
“It just seems like Arch Manning has a difficult time executing Sarks gameplans. I’m not saying it is all on him, but nothing really comes easily or is fluid. The offense has a hard time finding a rhythm and staying in a rhythm and it’s been like that for awhile. It just never felt like that was consistently an issue when Quinn Ewers was the starter,” Zierlein wrote on X today.
Problem with Manning or problem with the gameplan?
Some fans agreed that the passing game never seems to find its groove while others believe he simply isn’t the right fit for this particular offense:
“He isn’t a pocket passer, they want him to be. It’s as simple as that, Arch plays best when he’s running wild and doing what he needs to do, that’s his play style,” one user on X suggested.
“Feels like the pass game is never on time for two plays on a row,” another remarked.
“Is there too much flash in how Sark operates, to where his players are thinking too much? It does feel weird that they can’t stay or get in rhythm,” wrote a third.
“He’s plays best when they are behind because they go up tempo and less things he has to think about.”
Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Whether he’s a perfect fit for Sarkisian or just doesn’t have the talent to execute, the game film is really not doing Manning many favors as he tries to finish his college career strong and prepare for the 2027 NFL Draft.
Texas may keep winning without him being elite, and might even be good enough to win a national title with the way they played on defense today, but plenty of quarterbacks have won national titles and gone on to have forgettable NFL careers.
