Arch Manning heads into 2026 with something he didn’t have before: a full season of starts, a clearer handle on Steve Sarkisian’s offense and a better idea of what it takes to survive a year as Texas’ QB1.
That matters, because 2025 gave Manning both sides of the story. He opened the season unevenly, and the numbers showed it.
In his first five starts, he completed 60% of his passes for 1,151 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. Three of those picks came in Texas’ losses to Ohio State and Florida.
But the finish told a different story. Over Texas’ final six games, Manning averaged roughly 320 total yards per game and produced 20 touchdowns against only two interceptions. After a year that began with questions, he closed it looking much more like the player people expected.
There’s still one issue he’s made clear he wants to clean up: accuracy. Manning completed 61.4% of his passes in 2025, down from 67.8% in limited action the year before. When asked during an Aug. 25 media availability what he wants to improve most heading into 2026, he pointed straight to that area.
“Yeah, I want to get our receivers the ball and keep the ball off the ground, away from the defense,” Manning said. “Just gotta throw a lot and get timing down and match the offense. Keep trying to get better every day.”
That offseason focus could pay off quickly, especially with Texas surrounding him with more help. The Longhorns added Auburn receiver Cam Coleman, and Emmett Mosley V now gets a full training camp to settle in. Ryan Wingo should also be used more efficiently by Sarkisian this season, giving Texas a deeper and more dangerous passing game.
The backfield looks different too. Manning is now operating with Hollywood Smothers from North Carolina State and Raleek Brown from Arizona State, two backs who combined for 2,080 rushing yards last season while both averaged at least 5.9 yards per carry. Smothers earned First-Team All-ACC honors, and Brown topped 1,000 yards.
That new group could also take some pressure off Manning as a runner. He’s already shown he can hurt defenses with his legs, but a stronger backfield gives Texas the chance to lean on him less and maybe keep him fresher late in the season.
The hype around Manning has never really gone away. What changed in 2025 is that he finally built a season’s worth of evidence to back it up. Now, with a year of starts behind him, a sharper offseason focus and more weapons around him, he enters 2026 with a much stronger case to take the next step.
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Texas Fans Will Notice A Few Surprises On This NFL Roster List
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Among the more notable moves, the Dallas Cowboys waived running back Jaydon Blue, while undrafted defensive end Ethan Burke landed on the Baltimore Ravens roster. The full list of former Texas players who either made active rosters or ended up on injured reserve offers a useful snapshot of how the program continues to spread through the NFL, even if a few of the most interesting storylines are still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]
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Texas Fans Are Mourning A Key Big Man From The Final Four Era
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After his college career, Klotz continued playing professionally overseas and later spent time in the Orlando Magic summer league. For Longhorns supporters, his death is a reminder of how many important figures from that Final Four group remain tied to the programs history, even as the details surrounding his passing have not been made public. [Read more 🡒]