The Texas Longhorns delivered one of their most dominant performances of the season on Saturday, cruising past Sam Houston State in a 55–0 victory.
However, even during Manning’s five-touchdown performance, head coach Steve Sarkisian pointed to a technical flaw the young quarterback must correct as Texas continues its SEC journey.
Steve Sarkisian Sees Both Growth and Room for Arch Manning’s Improvement
Manning’s stat line was spectacular: 18-of-21 passing for 309 yards and three touchdowns through the air, with two more on the ground. Sarkisian praised Manning’s ability to deliver at a high level, noting a pair of throws that stood out: a deep out to Parker Livingstone and a perfectly timed deep crosser to DeAndre Moore between two defenders.
Sarkisian thought Arch Manning had many high level throws. The two that stood out were the:
Deep out to Parker Livingstone
Deep crosser between two defenders to DeAndre MooreManning has 14 TDs on the year, Sarkisian also noted.
— Evan Vieth (@EvanVieth) September 22, 2025
However, the Texas head coach also highlighted an area that needs attention. Sarkisian observed that Manning has a tendency to throw the ball too high at times, something that could be costly against tougher SEC defenses. Despite Manning’s 14 (total) touchdowns on the season, Sarkisian made it clear that continued refinement is key if the Longhorns hope to maintain championship-level consistency.
The Harsh Reality of SEC Football
While Manning’s rise has been a major storyline, Sarkisian also addressed the broader challenge of competing week after week in the SEC. Now in his fifth season at Texas, the veteran coach explained that no opponent can be overlooked in the conference.
“There’s nobody in our league that looked at their schedule and said, ‘oh yeah, that’s a win,'” Sarkisian said. “You better come ready to play because everybody is well-equipped coaching-wise, everybody’s well-equipped personnel-wise. There are some tough places to go play that you’ve got to be mentally prepared to play as well as physically prepared.”
Steve Sarkisian: “There’s nobody in our league that looked at their schedule and said ‘oh yeah, that’s a win.’ You better come ready to play because everybody is is well equipped coaching wise, everybody’s well equipped personnel wise. There’s some tough places to go play that…
— Inside Texas (@InsideTexas) September 22, 2025
This acknowledgment showcases the demanding reality of SEC football, where even the smallest lapses, such as a ball sailing high over a receiver’s hands, can swing the outcome of a game.
Texas’ Championship Standard Under Sarkisian
Under Sarkisian’s leadership, Texas has reestablished itself as one of the nation’s premier programs. Now in his 25th year of coaching and 12th as a head coach, Sarkisian has guided the Longhorns to steady growth through strong recruiting, disciplined player development, and a culture built on accountability.
His tenure has already delivered back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances in 2023 and 2024, making Texas the only program in the country to achieve that feat.
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The blowout win over Sam Houston State improved Texas to 3-1 on the season and demonstrated how dangerous this team can be when both sides of the ball are clicking. But as Sarkisian made clear, success in the SEC requires more than talent; it requires consistency, focus, and the ability to clean up even small mistakes.
For Manning, the ceiling is as high as his name suggests. With Sarkisian’s guidance and the Longhorns’ championship culture, the freshman quarterback has the support and challenge needed to meet the SEC’s demanding standard.
