Arch Manning's inaugural season as the Texas Longhorns' starting quarterback was a rollercoaster. Kicking off as a Heisman Trophy frontrunner, Manning struggled to surpass 200 passing yards in four of his first seven outings. However, he found his groove as the season progressed, setting the stage for an exciting 2026.
The main hurdle in Manning's offseason is a foot surgery he underwent in January. Although the procedure was minor, it kept him in a protective boot throughout February. Head Coach Steve Sarkisian isn't worried about any long-term issues, but plans to ease Manning back into action cautiously during spring practices.
“He had a lingering issue we wanted to address,” Sarkisian shared with ESPN’s Heather Dinich. “It wasn’t serious, but with any foot procedure, we want to ensure he’s fully healthy before returning.”
Manning's performance last season was impressive, leading Texas to a 10-3 record as a redshirt sophomore. He threw for 3,163 yards with 26 touchdowns against 7 interceptions, and added 399 rushing yards with 10 touchdowns on the ground.
Looking ahead, there's hope Manning will guide the Longhorns to the College Football Playoff and beyond in his second year as the starter. Despite missing out on the CFP last season, Texas is pegged with the second-best odds to win the SEC Championship next year. They kick off their campaign against Texas State on September 5.