Arch Manning finished the 2025 season the same way he opened it-with heavy expectations surrounding him. He led the Texas Longhorns to a 41-27 win over the No. 18 Michigan Wolverines in Wednesday night’s Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. The win came at an important time for Texas, as its late push wasn’t enough to reach the College Football Playoff, but closing the year with a bowl win provides valuable momentum heading into next season.
Heisman Talk Returns for Arch Manning After Electric Citrus Bowl Performance Against Michigan
Manning entered the season as the preseason Heisman Trophy frontrunner, with Texas also slotted at No. 1 nationally. Much of the buzz stemmed from it being his first year as the full-time starter and his legendary football lineage as the grandson of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning and the nephew of Super Bowl champions Peyton and Eli Manning.
After a slow start to the year, Manning spectacularly closed the season. He completed 21 of 34 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns without an interception on Wednesday, while adding 155 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground. His performance included a magnificent 60-yard touchdown run with 5:06 left in the fourth quarter.
Manning made Citrus Bowl history, becoming the first player in the game’s 80-year existence to both pass for 150 yards and rush for 150 yards. He was also the first player to top 150 rushing yards in the bowl since Marcus Murphy in 2015. The Texas QB1 nearly matched another family milestone as well, finishing one touchdown shy of tying Peyton’s five-touchdown outing for Tennessee in the 1997 Citrus Bowl.
Following this magnificent performance, Skip Bayless couldn’t resist heaping praise on Manning’s Heisman-caliber.
“Best game I’ve watched Arch play. What makes him so dangerous is he can really run. Not so much side to side, but crease-hitting straight ahead. Accuracy was much better today. Now he’ll be much better equipped to living up to being preseason Heisman favorite,” Bayless tweeted.
Best game I’ve watched Arch play. What makes him so dangerous is he can really run. Not so much side to side, but crease-hitting straight ahead. Accuracy was much better today. Now he’ll be much better equipped to living up to being preseason Heisman favorite.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) January 1, 2026
Manning struggled against Power Four opponents early in the season, throwing just four touchdowns and three interceptions in Texas’s first four such games against Ohio State, Florida, Oklahoma, and Kentucky. However, down the stretch, including the Michigan matchup, he tossed 14 touchdowns against only two interceptions over the final six Power Four games versus Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Georgia, Arkansas, and Texas A&M.
Even former NFL quarterback and 2004 Heisman winner Matt Leinart delivered a bold take on Manning’s caliber to draw Heisman conversation next season.
“Arch Manning will be the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy next year and favorite to be #1 pick in the 2027 draft. Huge huge improvement from week 1 to now,” Leinart tweeted.
Arch Manning will be the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy next year and favorite to be #1 pick in the 2027 draft. Huge huge improvement from week 1 to now.
— Matt Leinart (@MattLeinartQB) December 31, 2025
Manning currently holds an 83.1 grade in the PFSN College Football Quarterback Metric. He is set to return to Texas in 2026, a confirmation he made before the Michigan game, stating that his primary focus remains on continued growth and development.
