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Kyle Robertson-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

Arch Manning's Hype Train Stalls vs. Ohio State

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Luke Easterling | Last updated Aug 30, 2025 4:33 PM ET

Texas quarterback Arch Manning has already been crowned as the eventual No. 1 overall pick whenever he decides to enter the NFL Draft, but the Ohio State defense had a little something to say about that Saturday.

After months of hype, Manning made his first career road start for the top-ranked Longhorns on Saturday, finally the unquestioned starter in Austin after waiting behind upperclassman Quinn Ewers for the past two seasons.

The results weren't exactly the stuff of legend.

Manning looked uncomfortable all afternoon long against the loaded Buckeyes defense, failing to put any points on the board until finally connecting on a touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter of an eventual 14-7 loss in Columbus. He completed just 17 of his 30 pass attempts for 170 yards and an interception to go along with that scoring toss, while failing to make much of an impact with his legs, either (38 yards on 10 rushing attempts).

It's fair to credit the Buckeyes for making life miserable for Manning all game long, but the young passer's performance exposed some glaring flaws in his game that have to be fixed as soon as possible if he wants to deliver on the preseason hype.

He struggled with accuracy and ball placement throughout the game, floating deep passes that needed more zip while putting way too much juice on short throws that needed more touch. His mechanics were inconsistent at best and sloppy at worst, turning some questionable decisions into costly mistakes:

Arch Manning:
Mechanically not good. Really bad feet and arm slot. That lead to serious inaccuracy.

Horrible decisions on which receivers to throw to. Consistently chose the wrong guy.

I have to admit that I am thoroughly shocked at how poorly coached he looked. #Texas… pic.twitter.com/EQCImrrFTo
— Sin City Roto (@SinCityRoto) August 30, 2025

Yes, it's just one game, and it happened to be against one of the best teams in the country, in one of the most hostile road environments in the sport. It's also worth noting that head coach Steve Sarkisian's play-calling left plenty to be desired, particularly in the red zone.

And if you're looking for the glass-half-full kind of analysis, Manning had a couple of throws late in the fourth quarter that helped get the Longhorns back in the game after being stagnant for most of the afternoon. These plays clearly show the upside that has NFL teams excited about the tools Manning brings to the table:

ARCH MANNING TO PARKING LIVINGSTONE FOR THE TOUCHDOWN@Texasfootball takes one back pic.twitter.com/AqihAtErFO
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) August 30, 2025

ARCH MANNING WITH A DIME AND A HUGE GAIN @TexasFootball pic.twitter.com/yNBrclwahR
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) August 30, 2025

This kind of performance is exactly why it's a dangerous game to put such unfair expectations on a young player who just hasn't played a ton of meaningful snaps against top competition. No matter what his last name is, and how much natural talent he possesses, Manning still needs a ton of refinement before he's ready to make the leap to the next level, and that can only come from experience.

Can he still win the Heisman Trophy, and lead the Longhorns on a playoff/national title run?

Sure.

Can he still be the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, whether that's next year or the year after?

Of course.

But there's still a lot of work to be done if those things are gonna happen, and that's okay. There's a till a lotta ballgame(s) left.

The ceiling is still extremely high for Manning, but the hype train that was rolling out of control over the past couple of years needs to pump the brakes after being weighed and measured by the defending national champs.