Arch Manning entered the season as one of the most-hyped QBs in college football, with comparisons drawn with legends Tim Tebow and Trevor Lawrence, both Heisman-winning QBs. But his Week 1 debut as Texas’ starter didn’t go as planned, fueling questions about whether he is ready to shoulder the program’s lofty expectations.
The Longhorns were humbled with a 14-7 loss to Ryan Day’s Ohio State, and Manning struggled against one of the nation’s toughest defenses. He completed 17 of 30 passes for 170 yards, tossing one touchdown and one pick. The performance highlighted both his potential and growing pains, as Texas’ offense failed to generate rhythm against the Buckeyes.
HC Steve Sarkisian Rescues His Star Quarterback After Outcry
Despite the loss, head coach Steve Sarkisian was quick to shield his quarterback from heavy criticism after a challenging game.
An up and down day from Arch Manning, here’s every throw vs Ohio State pic.twitter.com/tfzdPJTjYk
— Nash (@NashTalksTexas) August 30, 2025
Instead of focusing on Manning’s stat line, Sarkisian emphasized his ability to adapt to the offense in different ways. In a recent admission of his star signal-caller, Sark broke down Manning’s game.
“I think Arch has a natural feel under center,” Sarkisian explained. “When you can get under center, the run game hits a little bit differently. You get the running back 7.5 yards behind the quarterback, you can run a little bit more downhill. I think that, in turn, helps your play-action pass game.”
He continued, “I don’t think that was a one-off for Ohio State. I think that’s going to be part of our offense moving forward throughout the season.”
Arch Manning was under center a good amount at Ohio State.
Steve Sarkisian: “I think Arch has a natural feel under center. When you can get under center, the run game hits a little bit differently. You get the running back 7.5 yards behind the quarterback, you can run a little…
— Inside Texas (@InsideTexas) September 4, 2025
By placing confidence in Manning, Sarkisian signaled that the Longhorns won’t overreact after one performance, especially when it came against an elite Buckeye defense stacked with future NFL talent, and backed by impeccable new defense coach Matt Patricia.
Off-Field Trouble for Texas: Wardell Mack Arrested
The aftermath of Texas’s Week 1 loss wasn’t limited to the football field. Redshirt freshman defensive back Wardell Mack was arrested early Wednesday morning in Travis County and charged with driving while intoxicated, as per reports.
Sarkisian didn’t say much about the case as it is still developing, but he broke his silence by responding, “We’re aware of the situation that occurred. We’re monitoring the authorities and where they stand on it. Anything that happens beyond that, we’ll handle internally.”
Steve Sarkisian on Wardell Mack: “We’re aware of the situation that occurred. We’re monitoring the authorities and where they stand on it. Anything that happens beyond that, we’ll handle internally.”
— Inside Texas (@InsideTexas) September 4, 2025
The No. 7 Longhorns (0-1) won’t have long to dwell on the Ohio State loss. They will host San José State (0-1) this Saturday at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, a matchup that gives Texas an opportunity to reset.
While the Longhorns are heavy favorites, Sarkisian knows the spotlight will remain on Manning’s development and how the program responds after a disappointing opener.
Game week on the Forty 🤘
Texas vs. San Jose State
Sat Sept. 6 | 11 AM CT | ABC
Presented by St.David’s HealthCare pic.twitter.com/gPsc75fsc5
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) September 1, 2025
For Manning, Week 2 is about more than just winning; it’s about proving he can grow from adversity and begin steering Texas back toward championship contention.
