Game week is here for Texas, and that means the spotlight is right where it was always going to be: on Arch Manning.
Steve Sarkisian’s Longhorns open against Texas State, and no one on the roster carries more pressure entering the season than Manning. In his second year as Texas’ starting quarterback, he’s being talked about like a Heisman contender and a player expected to help push the Longhorns into a national championship chase. The story around him is bigger than one opener, but this week is the first real chance to see whether the expectations match the performance.
The encouraging part for Texas is that Manning already showed what he can look like when things settle in. His season last year was split into two very different halves.
In the first half, he completed 57.5% of his passes for 1,539 yards, 12 touchdowns, and four interceptions. After that, the numbers jumped: 65.4% completions, 1,619 yards, 14 touchdowns, and three interceptions.
That late-season surge is the version Texas wants back.
Sarkisian made it clear today that he doesn’t think Manning needs to become someone else to get there. “He’s Arch.
He hasn’t changed. That, to me, is a great sign," Sarkisian said.
That kind of stability matters, especially with more help around him. Texas added transfer wide reciever Cam Coleman and running back Raleek Brown, giving Manning more pieces to work with on offense. He also got a positive update on the line, with Sarkisian saying Trevor Goosby and Laurence Seymore both practiced with the starters today after dealing with injuries and looked "really good".
The relationship between Manning and Sarkisian is also going to be a major part of how this season unfolds. According to the press conference, the two will spend plenty of time working through the playbook and figuring out what fits Manning best. Sarkisian said the key is understanding what the quarterback likes and doesn’t like when it comes to play calling.
“I want to make sure we’re calling plays for him that he believes in.” Sarkisian said
With the attention, the watchlists, and the outside noise building, Manning’s final run at Texas could end up shaping both his own future and the way this season is remembered around the program.
In Other News...
Sarkisian Put Texas In An Awkward Spot On Eligibility Fight
Texas found itself pulled into a growing college football eligibility fight after Steve Sarkisian spoke sharply about players trying to come back to campus after dabbling in the NFL. The Texas coach called that kind of return morally wrong, a stance that has only gained more attention as players around the sport push to regain college eligibility after time with pro teams and as the new return ban faces legal challenges.
The awkward part for Texas is that one of its own players is already in the middle of the issue. Offensive lineman Cole Hutson has been seeking to regain eligibility after taking part in NFL minicamps without signing a contract, and his case has become part of the broader legal push against the new rules. For a program trying to keep its focus on the field, the story has turned into an uncomfortable reminder that this debate is no longer happening somewhere else. [Read more 🡒]
Texas O-Line Gets A Needed Boost With Bigger Questions Still Lurking
The Longhorns got a welcome midcamp lift when Steve Sarkisian said Trevor Goosby and Laurence Seymore are back at practice after dealing with injuries. Goosby is moving along within a two-to-three-week recovery window after a preseason bone bruise, while Seymore has rejoined the group after missing time with camp injuries. For a Texas offensive line that has been working to build depth and continuity, getting both bodies back on the field matters as the schedule draws closer.
Their returns help stabilize a unit that has needed every available rep, but they also sharpen the next layer of questions for Texas. The Longhorns are still sorting out how the line will come together in the weeks ahead, and practice time now carries added importance as Sarkisian looks to get the group ready for upcoming games. Getting healthier is one thing; finding the right mix once everyone is available is the part Texas still has to answer. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Fans Should Be Very Excited About This Future Backfield
Texas fans got an early reminder that the future backfield in Austin could be loaded. Noah Roberts and Landen Williams-Callis both opened their high school seasons with performances that reinforced why the Longhorns were so eager to get them in the fold, while quarterback Neimann Lawrence also turned in a big night of his own for American Heritage. It was the kind of start that gives a program plenty to daydream about before the next recruiting class even arrives.
Roberts helped Basha notch a win over Chandler with a rushing score, and Williams-Callis did the heavy lifting for Randle with a huge workload in a season-opening victory. Lawrence, meanwhile, steered American Heritage to an overtime win with a prolific passing effort, adding another layer to the buzz around Texas incoming talent. For Longhorns fans, it is a reminder that the roster of future playmakers is already producing on Friday nights. [Read more 🡒]