Arch Manning spent much of 2025 learning what happens when a famous last name, a No. 1 recruiting pedigree, and Texas expectations collide.
Former NFL quarterback and Super Bowl XLIV champion Chase Daniel saw the pressure up close. After sitting down with Manning during the roughest part of his first full season as Texas’s starter, Daniel came away convinced the struggles were weighing on him, but not defining him.
Chase Daniel Saw Arch Manning’s Struggles Up Close
Daniel said Manning’s mechanics and accuracy simply did not look right early in the season, pointing to throws that were bouncing short of their targets.
“You’ve seen one-hop flat throws, one-hop stick throws; he just wasn’t himself,” Daniel said. “I got to talk to him for an hour and it just sort of felt like it was weighing on him, but he wasn’t overly worried. He’s like, ‘I’m gonna fix this.’”
Chase Daniel breaks it down on why Arch Manning has everything he needs to make the jump 👀 pic.twitter.com/6a86teM3US
— Bussin’ With The Boys (@BussinWTB) September 3, 2026
The numbers suggest Manning did exactly that. Over his final six games, he threw for 1,714 yards with 14 touchdowns and only two interceptions. His finale against Michigan became the exclamation point: Manning threw for 221 yards and two scores, rushed for 155 yards and two more touchdowns, and earned Citrus Bowl MVP honors in Texas’ 41-27 win.
Daniel called that performance a potential “turning point,” arguing Manning began to understand that he did not need to carry the enormous outside expectations attached to him.
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“Quite honestly, the expectations for Arch last year, he never played a snap, they were ridiculous,” Daniel said.
Manning still finished 2025 with 3,163 passing yards, 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions while Texas went 10-3. His 83.1 PFN QB Impact grade ranked No. 37 nationally, a solid finish that also illustrates why the preseason Heisman and NFL Draft hype had gotten ahead of his actual résumé.
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Texas Has Given Arch Manning Fewer Excuses in 2026
Daniel believes the physical tools are obvious. After meeting Manning, he said the Texas star “looks, feels, breathes like an NFL quarterback.”
What changes in 2026 is the supporting cast. Texas added Auburn transfer receiver Cam Coleman, who had 708 yards and five touchdowns last season, along with running backs Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown. Smothers rushed for 939 yards at NC State, while Brown topped 1,100 at Arizona State.
Daniel’s message for those additions was blunt: “They better be good because then the excuses are over.”
Manning gets his first chance to prove the late-2025 surge carried over when Texas opens against Texas State on Saturday. One week later, Ohio State visits Austin.
The expectations have not disappeared. Manning has simply had a year to learn how to play with them.
