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Throughout the 2025 season, whenever I’ve been asked to describe or define the identity of the Texas offense, my answer hasn’t changed. It's Arch Manning. When the Longhorns started a critical fourth-quarter drive in Wednesday’s 41-27 win over Michigan in the Citrus Bowl, with Texas (10-3) facing a 27-24 deficit with 10:56 remaining in regulation, @Rod Babers wondered out loud during our watch along whether Steve Sarkisian would focus on players or plays to move the football. Immediately after Manning’s fourth-and-2 scramble for 15 yards, which preceded his 30-yard touchdown strike to Kaliq Lockett for the go-ahead score, we had our answer. “Arch is the play!” he said. Just like he did in leading the Longhorns to wins over Oklahoma, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M in the regular season, Sarkisian chose to lean on Manning’s playmaking ability in the clutch. And, once again, Manning delivered, including a 60-yard touchdown scamper with 5:06 to play, which served as the final nail in the Wolverines’ coffin. Manning played turnover-free football in the Longhorns’ four wins over opponents ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 this season. With his four-touchdown outing against Michigan (9-4), Manning (21-for-34 passing for 221 yards and two touchdowns; nine rushing attempts for 155 yards and two scores en route to Citrus Bowl MVP honors) accounted for 10 total touchdowns (seven passing and three rushing) while quarterbacking Texas to wins over the Wolverines, Sooners, Commodores and Aggies. Even though he was bruised and bleeding in the fourth quarter, a time in which an offense that was already playing without Quintrevion Wisner and DeAndre Moore Jr. had to adjust on the fly when injuries took Emmett Mosley V (five catches for 51 yards) and Ryan Wingo (64 yards on four receptions) out of the lineup, Manning did something in Wednesday’s win that every great Longhorn quarterback has done at some point. His presence, playmaking ability and will to win elevated inexperienced weapons like Lockett and Christian Clark (105 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries) to a level nobody who’s watched Texas this season could’ve predicted was possible. Those who follow the program have had a front-row seat to watch Manning’s season-long trajectory throughout. As the curtain falls on Manning’s redshirt sophomore campaign, his performance and production are in line with what a lot of folks unfairly expected he’d show from the outset in 2025. He’ll take a 12-3 record as a starting quarterback into the 2026 season, one in which the Longhorns will be expected to contend for a berth in the College Football Playoff. While Sarkisian and the Texas organization will dive into the transfer portal to build a roster capable of standing tall after navigating a nine-game SEC schedule, nobody can question whether or not the Longhorns have a championship-caliber quarterback. Texas will enter 2026 with a quarterback who has a legitimate case to be labeled as college football’s top gunslinger. View full news story
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Throughout the 2025 season, whenever I’ve been asked to describe or define the identity of the Texas offense, my answer hasn’t changed. It's Arch Manning. When the Longhorns started a critical fourth-quarter drive in Wednesday’s 41-27 win over Michigan in the Citrus Bowl, with Texas (10-3) facing a 27-24 deficit with 10:56 remaining in regulation, @Rod Babers wondered out loud during our watch along whether Steve Sarkisian would focus on players or plays to move the football. Immediately after Manning’s fourth-and-2 scramble for 15 yards, which preceded his 30-yard touchdown strike to Kaliq Lockett for the go-ahead score, we had our answer. “Arch is the play!” he said. Just like he did in leading the Longhorns to wins over Oklahoma, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M in the regular season, Sarkisian chose to lean on Manning’s playmaking ability in the clutch. And, once again, Manning delivered, including a 60-yard touchdown scamper with 5:06 to play, which served as the final nail in the Wolverines’ coffin. Manning played turnover-free football in the Longhorns’ four wins over opponents ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 this season. With his four-touchdown outing against Michigan (9-4), Manning (21-for-34 passing for 221 yards and two touchdowns; nine rushing attempts for 155 yards and two scores en route to Citrus Bowl MVP honors) accounted for 10 total touchdowns (seven passing and three rushing) while quarterbacking Texas to wins over the Wolverines, Sooners, Commodores and Aggies. Even though he was bruised and bleeding in the fourth quarter, a time in which an offense that was already playing without Quintrevion Wisner and DeAndre Moore Jr. had to adjust on the fly when injuries took Emmett Mosley V (five catches for 51 yards) and Ryan Wingo (64 yards on four receptions) out of the lineup, Manning did something in Wednesday’s win that every great Longhorn quarterback has done at some point. His presence, playmaking ability and will to win elevated inexperienced weapons like Lockett and Christian Clark (105 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries) to a level nobody who’s watched Texas this season could’ve predicted was possible. Those who follow the program have had a front-row seat to watch Manning’s season-long trajectory throughout. As the curtain falls on Manning’s redshirt sophomore campaign, his performance and production are in line with what a lot of folks unfairly expected he’d show from the outset in 2025. He’ll take a 12-3 record as a starting quarterback into the 2026 season, one in which the Longhorns will be expected to contend for a berth in the College Football Playoff. While Sarkisian and the Texas organization will dive into the transfer portal to build a roster capable of standing tall after navigating a nine-game SEC schedule, nobody can question whether or not the Longhorns have a championship-caliber quarterback. Texas will enter 2026 with a quarterback who has a legitimate case to be labeled as college football’s top gunslinger.
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1991 Bowl Memory: Lessons Learned
Migas & Fajitas replied to Purplehorn3's topic in On Texas Football Forum
The difference in team speed was striking. I felt sorry for Gardere. Did not have a chance. -
He was definitely in and playing. But I didn’t really see Simon getting in.
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1991 Bowl Memory: Lessons Learned
Waxahorn replied to Purplehorn3's topic in On Texas Football Forum
I was there and it sucked to realize that we were not even in Miami's league, in addition to my frozen ass. -
Vince Young against Michigan in 2004 Rose bowl (top bowl outside of championship): 372 total yards, 5 total TDs Arch against Michigan in 2025 Cheez-It Bowl (top bowl outside of playoff): 376 Total yards, 4 total TDs
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Turning down 8 million at that age. He really is a lifetime longhorn.
- Yesterday
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OTF Premium 2025-26 Portal Tracker Thread
EHoff99 replied to CJ Vogel's topic in On Texas Football Forum
You keep repeating this when literally nobody is disagreeing with that. We all realize that. We all know that, I promise you. That doesn’t change that WR was still part of the problem and needs to be improved. -
OTF Premium 2025-26 Portal Tracker Thread
Longhornlove replied to CJ Vogel's topic in On Texas Football Forum
Penalties and thereby lack of discipline was the next biggest issue. No one can convince me otherwise. FYI we will be finishing the season as the MOST penalized team in the country. -
OTF Premium 2025-26 Portal Tracker Thread
Longhornlove replied to CJ Vogel's topic in On Texas Football Forum
Not being able to run the football and protect the QB were far and away the biggest issues on this team minus early season Arch not being able to hit the broad side of a barn and nothing else is close. -
OTF Premium 2025-26 Portal Tracker Thread
EHoff99 replied to CJ Vogel's topic in On Texas Football Forum
The entire season definitely showed they were part of the problem. Not the only problem, but definitely part of it. -
OTF Premium 2025-26 Portal Tracker Thread
Paul L replied to CJ Vogel's topic in On Texas Football Forum
I have an idea. Put the kick off out the back of the end zone. -
OTF Premium 2025-26 Portal Tracker Thread
Longhornlove replied to CJ Vogel's topic in On Texas Football Forum
I tried but keyboard warriors come in here claiming their entire obsession with the WR room being dogshit is validated with 1/2 of an exhibition game as proof of evidence when the entire season of evidence says they aren't the problem and weren't the defining reason for not making the playoffs. -
OTF Premium 2025-26 Portal Tracker Thread
EHoff99 replied to CJ Vogel's topic in On Texas Football Forum
Need that out of Lockett next year. Very very encouraging to see. Also Arch is unbelievable. -
OTF Premium 2025-26 Portal Tracker Thread
EHoff99 replied to CJ Vogel's topic in On Texas Football Forum
I am. While having a normal football discussion. You should be able to do that as well. -
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khorn28 replied to CJ Vogel's topic in On Texas Football Forum
***Wrong thread -
OTF Premium 2025-26 Portal Tracker Thread
Longhornlove replied to CJ Vogel's topic in On Texas Football Forum
These officials are terrible. -
OTF Premium 2025-26 Portal Tracker Thread
Paul L replied to CJ Vogel's topic in On Texas Football Forum
Refs must have been paid for a game that doesn't matter. 100 % a fumble. -
OTF Premium 2025-26 Portal Tracker Thread
Paul L replied to CJ Vogel's topic in On Texas Football Forum
Regardless of it being a TD or not there was definitely holding on that TD. Tackled our defensive player. -
OTF Premium 2025-26 Portal Tracker Thread
Longhornlove replied to CJ Vogel's topic in On Texas Football Forum
Not his Junior year he didn't.