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Steve Sarkisian: Arch Manning is 'better and stronger' for how he's handled his 2025 journey

Jeff Howe
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Jeff Howe Lifetime Longhorn

Jeff Howe

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AUSTIN, Texas — Arch Manning will lead Texas into the 2025 regular-season finale against Texas A&M on Friday (6:30 p.m., ABC), looking to extend the best stretch of football he’s played in his first full season as QB1 for the Longhorns.

The career-high 389 yards Manning threw for and six touchdowns he accounted for (he and Bobby Layne as the only quarterbacks in school history to throw for, rush for and catch a touchdown in a single game) in Saturday’s 52-37 win over Arkansas earned him a Manning Award Star of the Week nod, a spot on the Davey O’Brien Award’s “Great 8” list and recognition as the Associated Press National Player of the Week. Manning’s historic afternoon made him the first Texas (8-3, 5-2 SEC) quarterback to record three 300-yard passing games in a four-game stretch since Colt McCoy in 2009, one in which Manning (against Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Georgia and Arkansas) has accounted for 14 touchdowns (11 passing, two rushing and one receiving).

Doing his part to keep the Longhorns in the hunt for a third consecutive berth in the College Football Playoff over the team’s last four games, Manning is completing 65.1 percent of his passes (99 for 152). He's thrown for 1,314 yards and just two interceptions heading into Friday’s showdown with the Aggies at Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

The game has slowed down for Manning and, as a result, he’s thriving, Steve Sarkisian said on Monday. While praising Manning’s continued growth as a progression passer and decision maker, Sarkisian said that how the redshirt sophomore quarterback overcame his early-season struggles has led to Manning’s play becoming, arguably, the biggest strength of a Texas team standing between Texas A&M (11-0, 7-0) and its first-ever trip to the SEC title game.

“I don't know if any college player has gone through what he went through before he even was the full-time starter,” Sarkisian said. “Part of that is his last name, part of it is our brand. I think those two things coming together made this such a big storyline before the season, but none of it was anything due to what Arch was doing. He just kept focusing on what he needed and tried to do. I'm sure there were moments when it was a lot — maybe, even overwhelming — but, to his credit, the guy showed so much resolve and resiliency and stick-to-itiveness to the task at hand. It wasn't a perfect journey to get to this point, but sometimes, it's good not to have a perfect journey. Sometimes, taking a road less traveled is good for you.

"I said this earlier in the year — he was going to benefit from the journey that he had to go on and that he could learn how to overcome some of the adversity that he was faced with and some of the criticism he was faced with," he added. "I think he's better and stronger for it today and I'm really proud of him.”


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Jeff Howe Lifetime Longhorn

Jeff Howe

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FWIW, Arch is 10-3 as a starter. That's the same record Colt McCoy had after 13 starts and he's one game behind Vince Young (11-2) in win-loss record through 13 starts.

He's also 7-0 at home and has an 8-0 record in games played inside the state of Texas.

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AusMOJO First Round Pick

AusMOJO

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5 minutes ago, Jeff Howe said:

FWIW, Arch is 10-3 as a starter. That's the same record Colt McCoy had after 13 starts and he's one game behind Vince Young (11-2) in win-loss record through 13 starts.

He's also 7-0 at home and has an 8-0 record in games played inside the state of Texas.

Not to try and compare too much, but he's also statistically having a better first year starting than Ewers, although Ewers was younger when he first started. 

I'm proud of the way he's battled through the season. Now we just hope Sark can put the pieces around him to elevate to the next level. 

AusMOJO First Round Pick

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2 minutes ago, antcan95 said:

Does this version of Arch with last year’s defense with the title? 

Well, does he also have better weapons around him? That's important, too. Compared to the last couple of years, there is a significant drop in talent with the previous guys to these guys. 

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davidhume Freshman

davidhume

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2 minutes ago, AusMOJO said:

Not to try and compare too much, but he's also statistically having a better first year starting than Ewers, although Ewers was younger when he first started. 

I'm proud of the way he's battled through the season. Now we just hope Sark can put the pieces around him to elevate to the next level. 

The program was coming off a 5-7 season when Ewers made his first start; no one was talking about a national title at that point. 
 

When Arch took over we were ranked #1 in preseason polls and it was national title or bust.

That a Grand Canyon of difference between where Arch took over and when Ewers took over.

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AusMOJO First Round Pick

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4 minutes ago, davidhume said:

The program was coming off a 5-7 season when Ewers made his first start; no one was talking about a national title at that point. 
 

When Arch took over we were ranked #1 in preseason polls and it was national title or bust.

That a Grand Canyon of difference between where Arch took over and when Ewers took over.

Okay and? That has nothing to do with what I said lol. 

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Jeff Howe Lifetime Longhorn

Jeff Howe

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22 minutes ago, Doc Strangemood said:

Rehash of the press conference already covered across the internet.

Yet you felt the need to comment. Cool.

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Jeff Howe Lifetime Longhorn

Jeff Howe

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27 minutes ago, AusMOJO said:

Now we just hope Sark can put the pieces around him to elevate to the next level. 

It feels like Texas is the team that needs to be all-in after coming up short. Hope it goes more like it did for Ohio State last season and not Penn State this season. It's up to Sark to push the right buttons.

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AusMOJO First Round Pick

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3 minutes ago, Jeff Howe said:

It feels like Texas is the team that needs to be all-in after coming up short. Hope it goes more like it did for Ohio State last season and not Penn State this season. It's up to Sark to push the right buttons.

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Texas fan in Georgia Lifetime Longhorn

Texas fan in Georgia

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All the bs he went through this year is gonna pay off . 31 TDs this year. And honestly he should be closer to 40 if not for the drops and early season struggles. Just the thought of a run game and a seasoned offensive line around arch should scare the piss out of next years opponents.

Califashorn75 Senior

Califashorn75

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What impresses me the most is how Arch can shake off would be tacklers,  yet maintain his vision toward his receiver options. He is tough as nails. Reminds me of a young Terry Bradshaw. Yes, I am old. 68 very soon. 

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