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Greg McElroy Makes Arch Manning Prediction After His Struggles Against Ohio State

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nate Lunak | Last updated Aug 31, 2025 12:00 PM ET

Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning was expected to hit the ground running to start the 2025 season. However, that was far from the case, as they lost Week 1 to the Ohio State Buckeyes 14-7.

Manning was far from elite, completing 17-of-30 passes for 170 yards, one touchdown and one interception, while also having 10 carries for 38 yards.

It's a disappointing stat line that has ultimately caused some of the Heisman Trophy buzz to cool off.

Greg McElroy Shares Long-Term Prediction for Arch Manning

His performance drew a wide range of reactions from fans and analysts alike, including ESPN's Greg McElroy, who expressed confidence in Manning's future while also addressing the early struggles.

“Arch Manning takeaway, I thought he played average,” McElroy said. “Thought there were a few misses, thought there were a couple of things his team could have done for him. I thought they did a great job of kind of corralling him in the run game, and that’s an excellent defense. So I think that he’ll be fine long-term, I just don’t think that was the best situation for him.”

As a unit, Ohio State earned the No. 8 spot on Pro Football Focus' rankings of the top-10 defenses in college football, so it was never going to be a cakewalk for the Longhorns.

McElroy has always been high on Manning, previously stating that the Texas quarterback's ceiling is "outrageous," so his prediction of a bounce back comes as no surprise.

Arch Manning Presented an Exciting Week 2 Opportunity

The season-opener didn't go as planned, but Texas has a golden opportunity ahead, taking on the San Jose State Spartans at home in Week 2.

The Spartans also lost their Week 1 matchup against Central Michigan, giving up a total of 340 yards to a Chippewas offense that, in every aspect, is inferior to the Longhorns.

While San Jose State may not be the same caliber as Ohio State, it offers Texas the opportunity to clean up some of the small mistakes and get Manning back on track, as McElroy suggests is possible.

Manning's underperformance in Week 1 is something he addressed, saying, "Ultimately, not good enough. Obviously you don't want to start off the season 0-1. They're a good team. I thought we beat ourselves a lot, and that starts with me. I've got to play better for us to win."

Despite starting the season on a sour note, the expectations remain the same for Texas, which includes competing for an SEC title and national championship.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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