As Texas enters the 2025 season, head coach Steve Sarkisian faces the task of guiding Arch Manning — now the starting quarterback and heir to the storied Manning legacy. Manning’s arrival, hailed as transformative for the Longhorns, carried immense expectations tied to both his lineage and natural ability.
After spending two seasons developing behind the scenes, his promotion has sparked high hopes in Austin. Sarkisian’s challenge lies in maximizing Manning’s potential while pushing the program beyond recent playoff disappointments and into the national title conversation, where the quarterback’s talent and calm presence could be decisive factors.
Texas Turns to Arch Manning as Steve Sarkisian Eyes National Glory
Arch Manning’s arrival at Texas brought immediate spotlight, and as he prepares for his first full season as the starting quarterback, the expectations are only rising. Head coach Steve Sarkisian acknowledged the difficulty of managing the media frenzy surrounding the highly touted prospect.
“I don’t know if you can insulate,” Sarkisian told OutKick’s Trey Wallace. “For Arch, part of coming to Texas was building that brand and having exposure… I want to make sure he enjoys his experience… Part of that is protecting him as well.”
After backing up Quinn Ewers for two seasons, Manning steps into the spotlight with valuable in-game experience. Last year, he filled in during Ewers’ absence, starting two games and completing 41 of 60 passes for 583 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions.
In total, he appeared in 10 games, throwing for 939 yards and nine touchdowns while rushing for 108 yards and four more scores.
His most impressive performance came after Ewers’ early injury against UTSA, where Manning passed for 223 yards, rushed for 53, and totaled five touchdowns. That game also featured a standout 67-yard rushing score, showcasing the dual-threat ability that sets him apart.
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Sarkisian even joked, “This guy’s a better athlete than I thought. Definitely got grandpa’s gene. It’s not the uncles, he got grandpa’s gene.”
With Texas opening its season at Ohio State, Manning, once a five-star recruit, now leads a playoff-contending program.
As analyst Fran Duff put it, “Legit giddy to watch Arch Manning as THE guy in Steve Sarkisian’s offense.”
Legit giddy to watch Arch Manning as THE guy in Steve Sarkisian’s offense. The efficiency, high success-rate throws remain but with the added ability to stress defenses downfield and with his legs at a high level
The small sample of poise / aggression for a young QB was awesome pic.twitter.com/R62F9Owvaj
— Fran Duffy (@FDuffyNFL) May 12, 2025
Still, Sarkisian urges caution.
“Arch is a great player, but I hope for everybody here that we don’t get too far ahead of ourselves,” Sarkisian said. “Let’s let this guy go play this year … It’s finally his time and I hope he can just have the opportunity to enjoy it and enjoy it the right way.”
Manning’s influence extends beyond the field. With NIL deals from Uber, Red Bull and Panini America, his On3 valuation sits at a record $6.6 million — $2.2 million higher than the next college athlete.
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