USA Today: Arch Manning is just ... average? That's how he looks for Texas

[Blake Munroe]

Just a tad early for the overreactions, but hey.. here we are!

From USA Today:

Arch Manning amassed good stats in Texas' rout of San Jose State, but he was far from flawless.

What if Arch Manning doesn’t stink? And, what if he’s not some blend of Tim Tebow meets Joe Burrow?

What if he’s just … average? Maybe, a notch above average, especially when he’s not facing Ohio State.

I know, I know, when evaluating Manning, it’s a spicy-takes-only zone.

I’m at risk of a committing party foul, because there’s nothing especially spicy about calling a first-year starting quarterback average.

Based on what we’ve seen of Manning through two starts this season, though, it’s the appropriate evaluation.

If you believed everything you read on social media, then Manning was either awesome or awful against San Jose State.

He was neither. He was sufficient, while starting in front of a home crowd against an overmatched opponent.

No wonder Archie Manning predicted his grandson wouldn’t declare for the NFL draft after this season. Nothing we’ve seen suggests he’s ready for "Monday Night Football." Nothing we’ve seen suggests Steve Sarkisian erred by starting Quinn Ewers the past two seasons, either.

Manning made some nice tosses in Texas’ 38-7 rout of San Jose State. Say this for him: He can throw a wheel route. Any SEC quarterback should be able to carve up an opponent of this caliber, and, after a rocky start, Manning did. He also threw an interception in the red zone when he forced a pass into double coverage, and Texas punted six times while he was in the game.

Just as he did against Ohio State, he looked better the longer the game went. He threw four touchdown passes, and Sarkisian kept playing him in a blowout deep into the fourth quarter, giving Manning’s stats time to marinate.

If you wagered your mortgage payment on Manning winning the Heisman Trophy, you’re probably feeling squeamish. This performance did not harken memories of uncle Peyton lighting up Kentucky for more than 500 yards. Didn’t evoke comparisons to Vince Young, either. Also didn’t elicit memories of Garrett Gilbert, a former five-star bust at Texas.

This performance ranked as something in between Young and Gilbert. Not spicy. Not bad, either.

Manning interspersed good throws with bad ones. He made a good read on a run-pass option for a touchdown to Parker Livingstone, who’s emerged as a favorite target. He grimaced while bouncing a throw at the feet of an open Ryan Wingo. He airmailed a deep ball early in the first quarter, which came closer to an interception than a completion. He showed speed and jukes that Peyton and Eli would envy on a weaving scramble into the end zone. Manning’s passing mechanics need polish. His athleticism as a runner remains an asset.

He proved effective, but far from flawless.

The good news for Texas? Led by its talented defense, Texas can win a lot of games with a solid, imperfect quarterback. But, the Longhorns will need a quarterback to win a national championship. Manning hasn't looked championship ready. Maybe, he’ll get there.

Manning will close September with two more games against Group of Five opponents. That’s groundwork for more stat-padding and blazing takes.

"Sloppy," Manning said of his performance against San Jose State.

Spicy! Like a lot of opinions about Manning, though, he overstated it.

Sometimes, a guy’s just average, no matter his surname.

[Blake Munroe]

Link to article:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/09/07/arch-manning-stats-average-texas/85928100007/

[Dread-headed Texan]

Nope 🤣 we are enamored with ourselves and don't listen to outside noise. We are the University of Texas, not the University of USA Today. Their opinion doesn't matter. 

[Joe Zura]

Clickbait Munroe strikes again 

[A-10HORN]

I think average is a fair take right now 

 

some good, some bad. 
 

I’ve yet to see him really make a layered throw with one exception

[Oldest Horn]

Cool. Hopefully the Heisman and first pick in the 26 draft noise stops too. 

[Bunk Moreland]

This conversation is so pointless and ignorant. An appropriate comparison for Arch isn’t Joe Burrow from 2019 or the NFL—it’s 2018 Joe Burrow. That’s first-year starter, third-year Joe Burrow. It’s 58% completion, 16 TDs, and 133 PER Joe Burrow. 133 PER is bad. But we don’t judge Joe Burrow by those full-season stats because he wasn’t fully developed yet! We really can’t judge Arch until the end of 2026, which follows his development curve. These overreactions just make no sense whatsoever.

[tsip92]

Good Lord.  When the writer admits it’s a stupid take in the first two paragraphs of the article you know it’s trash.  I stopped there.  
 

Yes, Arch is average right now.  Why it’s worthy of this drivel I have no idea.  

[Jordan91]

When he says Archie’s grandfather, he loses all credibility. He’s making it personal at that point. Has virtually no idea what his grandfather meant. He should just say I think he’s average. 

[horns96]

Old enough to remember VY getting benched at home against Texas Tech his first year of starting.