Arch Manning is coming off his best game of his collegiate career heading into a matchup with a reeling Florida Gator team. Manning and Florida quarterback DJ Lagway entered 2025 with heightened expectations, but both have struggled to live up to the hype thus far.
While both QBs share in the frustrations of tough starts individually, their teams couldn’t be in more different scenarios ahead of this Week 6 match-up. Texas enters Saturday’s game with a 3-1 record and is ranked ninth in the country, while Florida is 1-3. There’s a lot at stake for each guy this weekend as Lagway looks to right the ship and Manning looks to build on his recent performance.
Arch Manning and DJ Lagway’s Seasons So Far
Manning’s stats to this point in the season have been fine enough, but the play-by-play performance hasn’t been what we all expected. Manning has completed 61.3% of his passes for 888 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions. Up until now in the 2025 season, his QB impact score is a C, which is 95th in the nation by PFSN College’s QB Impact (QBi). On the positive side, his performance in Week 4 against Sam Houston State was his best to date, earning a B grade and ranking 16th in the nation.
On the other hand, Lagway has been on a downward slide. In the 2025 season, Lagway has posted a C- QB impact score, and he’s posted a D+ in two consecutive weeks. Over the last two games, Lagway has thrown just one touchdown to go along with five interceptions.
Who Comes Out on Top This Weekend?
This weekend is pivotal for both teams and quarterbacks. Manning is looking to show the college football world that he’s turned a corner and that his last performance wasn’t just a product of beating down an inferior opponent. For Lagway and the Gators, a win against the No. 9 Longhorns will be the only shot at saving their season.
In this video from “Inside Texas,” they discussed the matchup between these two big-name QBs. These hosts are taking Manning in the matchup this weekend, citing the added pressure on both Lagway and Florida coach Billy Napier.
Lagway or Manning…
Who ya got🤔 pic.twitter.com/HF6xPDq4bK
— Inside Texas (@InsideTexas) September 30, 2025
The odds makers agree, as No. 9 Texas is virtually a touchdown favorite across the board. Despite the slow start for both guys, there is still plenty of football left to be played this season, and this is clearly a pivotal moment for both. This one will kick off Saturday at 3:30 p.m. E.T. in Florida.
