It was finally Arch Manning’s time to shine as the Texas Longhorns went against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Manning, the newest star from the celebrated Manning family, got his big starting quarterback nod, and fans were expecting him to put on a show.
Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. In fact, the game was a total embarrassment for Texas as they failed to make any real impact in the first three quarters. And when their time came to get on the scoreboard, it was marred in controversy.
With 3:28 to go, Parker Livingstone hauled in a 32-yard touchdown pass from Manning. That cut the Buckeyes’ lead down to 14-7. The officials reviewed the footage to determine whether it was a clean touchdown or not. Upon review, they found out that Livingstone held onto the football.
However, the internet wasn’t convinced. Fans alleged that the officials did Manning and the Longhorns a favor by allowing the TD to go on the scoresheet.
“Arch getting the pity TD from the refs,” a fan wrote.
Arch getting the pity TD from the refs
— nathan (@npchristman) August 30, 2025
“Still laughably wild, in the year of 2025, that we still have CFB games officiated by the road team’s conference officials & NOT a neutral conference. No one could say that Arch Manning’s TD pass to Parker Livingstone being upheld had no hit of SEC bias. 😂” a fan wrote.
“ground assisted…. should’ve been incomplete…. SEC ref bias,” a fan commented.
“SHOULD HAVE BEEN OVERTURNED,” another opined.
“That’s not a catch! It’s SEC officials,” a fan posted.
“Not a catch,” another wrote.
Although the opinion on Livingstone’s catch is far from being unanimous, many believe that the officials didn’t do the right thing, as it should have been overturned upon review. The claims about SEC bias aren’t too far-fetched either.
Despite it being a home game for the Buckeyes, the officiating crew came from the SEC. Regardless, Manning’s season opener ended up being a disaster as his team lost 14-7.
Skip Bayless went off on Arch Manning after the first half
This was supposed to be Arch Manning’s big moment. The season opener, his first game as the starting QB, and arguably the strongest team in the country, he had all the elements that required him to step up to the occasion. The reality was far from that.
Skip Bayless wasn’t pleased with Manning’s first-half performance. After calling it “jittery, overamped” in the beginning, the media veteran went off at the end of the first half.
“Now I better understand why Arch Manning couldn’t beat out Quinn Ewers last year,” Bayless wrote. “Arch Manning was wildly inaccurate in that first half (5-10 for 26 yds) and didn’t demonstrate much poise or command. Yes, this is a tough place for a first road start but still … concerning.”
Now I better understand why Arch Manning couldn’t beat out Quinn Ewers last year. Arch Manning was wildly inaccurate in that first half (5-10 for 26 yds) and didn’t demonstrate much poise or command. Yes, this is a tough place for a first road start but still … concerning.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) August 30, 2025
In the second half, especially toward the end, Manning gave Bayless something worth celebrating. After the Longhorns registered a touchdown, Bayless claimed that Manning “HAS FINALLY COME ALIVE.”
Unfortunately, that was the end of Bayless and the Texas fans’ happiness.
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