Jump to content

'Arch is the play!': Manning rises to the occasion and lifts Texas to a Citrus Bowl win

Jeff Howe
 Share

Recommended Posts

  • Moderators
Jeff Howe Lifetime Longhorn

Jeff Howe

Posted
  • Moderators
Posted

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

  • Hook 'Em 8
DLPilot Freshman

DLPilot

Posted
Posted

Arch has really come on as year has gone by.  Sark still gets stubborn with RPO plays.  If you review the year that has been where Arch has struggled the most and the ball is deflected.

 

nicray0920 Redshirt

nicray0920

Posted
Posted

Arch and Clark plus a very surprising back up defense just showed the depth of what Texas has. You think the expectations for Arch were big this yea? Wait till August 2026! Hook Em everyone! Happy New Year!

  • Hook 'Em 1
Jordan91 Lifetime Longhorn

Jordan91

Posted
Posted

Not a berth in the CFP. They need to be playing for it all. I can’t think of a better time. Simmons and Manning could literally be 1-2 in the draft. It’s time for the final step. 

  • Moderators
Jeff Howe Lifetime Longhorn

Jeff Howe

Posted
  • Author
  • Moderators
Posted
1 hour ago, DLPilot said:

Arch has really come on as year has gone by.  Sark still gets stubborn with RPO plays.  If you review the year that has been where Arch has struggled the most and the ball is deflected.

 

It's still interesting that he's much better when it's a dropback game and he can scan the field and deliver the ball. He's gotten better on RPO's and setting guys up for YAC situations as the season has gone on, but that's an area where he can get better in '26.

  • Moderators
Jeff Howe Lifetime Longhorn

Jeff Howe

Posted
  • Author
  • Moderators
Posted
1 hour ago, Hobbs02 said:

Mr. Manning has some wheels that's for sure

Maybe Sark really wasn't BS'ing us about Arch getting clocked at 20-plus MPH a few years ago.

TrouperG Freshman

TrouperG

Posted
Posted (edited)

So Vincent Paul Young's 2005 Rose Bowl Stats were eerily similar.  Arch Accounted for 6 fewer total yards and 1 fewer touchdown so even though history may not repeat itself it certainly rhymes.  I am hoping that Arch loses out to Jayden Maiava for the Heisman and takes it out on the 2026 Trojans in the 2027 Rose Bowl Game. If, for no other reason, than another Will Ferrell vs. Matthew McConaughey promo before the game.  And that's not even the semifinal.

Edited by TrouperG

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.