After a rocky start to the season against Ohio State, the Texas Longhorns bounced back in game two. With Arch Manning leading the charge, the Longhorns registered a dominant 38-7 victory over the San Jose State Spartans.
Manning was incredible in the game. He completed 19 of 30 passing attempts for 295 yards and four touchdowns. The 21-year-old put up a performance that’d be expected from the newest star of the celebrated Manning family.
However, there were some worrying signs when Manning was on the field. In a video uploaded by a fan on X, Manning was seen struggling to throw the ball. Although he didn’t come out of the game, he was visibly in pain. This led to a widespread discussion on whether Manning should protect himself from long-term injuries.
Recently, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian sat down for the presser, and the issue was brought up by a reporter. Before the reporter could finish his question, Sarkisian asked for his source.
“He doesn’t have any [problems],” Sarkisian said. “I’ve never filmed any of you guys when you use the bathroom. So, I don’t know what faces you make when you’re doing that.”
Sarkisian on if Arch Manning had any shoulder problems 😂 pic.twitter.com/VOGnKCpkj4
— Nash (@NashTalksTexas) September 8, 2025
Sarkisian chuckled at his own response and moved on to the next question. Regardless of the analogy he was going for, the coach made it clear that Manning doesn’t have any physical problems, and he wasn’t struggling in pain during the game.
The quarterback has had everyone’s attention even before the season started for several reasons. It goes without saying that being from the Manning family puts him in the spotlight. He is also playing his first season as the starting quarterback, so the expectations are sky-high.
Read more: “Tank for Arch Manning”: Miami’s Nightmare vs. Colts Has Fans Begging for Texas Star
Steve Sarkisian Was Pleased with Arch Manning’s Performance
When the first game against Ohio State resulted in a 7-14 loss, Manning caught a lot of flak. He went 17 of 30 for 170 yards and had one touchdown. He was criticized, questioned, and trolled by fans on social media.
For a capable player like Manning, a strong comeback was only days away. His coach was particularly happy with the way Manning held his composure, not letting the noise get to him, and continued to prepare for the next game.
“I thought today was a by-product of the week of work,” Sarkisian said. “He played aggressive throughout the week. He studied the game plan. He knew exactly what we were trying to do, and I thought today he played more of his style. He extended plays, used his legs, scrambles for a touchdown. That’s the style of player that he is.”
The Longhorns will play the UTEP Miners next on Sept. 13 at the Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.
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