Maybe Texas fans ought to slow down before writing off Arch Manning.
Yes, Manning has flaws. So does everybody. But the noise around Texas’ quarterback has gotten loud even though he’s already delivered plenty to justify the faith the Longhorns have shown in him since Quinn Ewers moved on to the NFL.
Manning has guided Texas to a 14-3 overall record as the team’s starter, yet skepticism has followed him for the last year and a half. That includes plenty of second-guessing from the Texas fan base itself. And that’s where the conversation starts to feel a little off.
If you stack Manning up against the best quarterbacks in Texas history, his numbers are hard to ignore. His 149.5 passing efficiency rating is the second-best mark in program history among quarterbacks with at least 400 pass attempts.
Here’s how that group stacks up:
Colt McCoy, 155.0
Arch Manning, 149.5
Quinn Ewers, 148.0
Sam Ehlinger, 145.0
Vince Young, 144.9
David Ash, 138.6
Chris Simms, 138.4
Major Applewhite, 136.6
That list puts Manning in rare company, even if the skepticism hasn’t gone away. Texas fans never seemed to be calling for Mack Brown to bench Vince Young back in 2005, despite Young posting a lower passing efficiency rating than Manning. And in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Major Applewhite had the lowest PER on this list, yet the debate around quarterbacking in Austin wasn’t nearly as harsh as it is now.
Still, the question hanging over Manning is whether he can be the guy who gets Texas back to the Holy Land: the National Championship game. Some will point out that Young brought more of a dual-threat profile to the position, but Manning can run too. The difference, according to head coach Steve Sarkisian, is that Texas wants him leaning on the running backs more often instead of relying so heavily on his own legs.
There’s also plenty of football left. Texas still has eight games to play in the regular season, and the schedule includes some serious defensive tests against the Oklahoma Sooners and LSU Tigers.
That means Manning’s numbers could slide. They could also climb if he keeps settling in the way he did last season.
If he can help Texas run the table, win the SEC Championship game for the first time, reach the CFP, and make a National Championship push, the conversation around him will look a lot different. That’s the level McCoy and Young occupy, and that’s the standard Manning is chasing.
For now, though, the case is pretty simple: Manning has flaws, sure, but he’s also already built a résumé that belongs near the top of Texas quarterback history. Before the criticism gets any louder, it might be worth taking a breath.
In Other News...
Texas Gets A Rivalry Boost From A Familiar Face Returning
Hollywood Smothers has already become a useful part of Texas run game after arriving from Oklahoma by way of North Carolina State, and his presence has been felt in 2026 even with the Longhorns still sorting out their backfield. He missed a recent game because of a lower leg injury, but the timing of his return could hardly be better for a Texas team heading into one of the most charged dates on the schedule.
Smothers is healthy again and expected to be available for the Red River Rivalry against the Sooners, the program he once called home. For Texas, that adds both depth and a little extra bite to a matchup that rarely needs any help getting there. [Read more 🡒]
Red River Just Got More Personal For Texas In A New Way
The buildup to the Red River Rivalry already has plenty of familiar edge, but Texas is also dealing with a newer kind of familiarity on the other sideline. Parker Livingstone, a junior wide receiver, transferred from Texas to Oklahoma after the 2025 season, adding another layer to a matchup that always seems to find a way to feel personal. Steve Sarkisian has acknowledged the reality of letting Livingstone and other players move on, and now the Longhorns have to sort through those departures as part of the backdrop to one of the sports most emotional weekends.
Livingstone has not been as productive at Oklahoma so far this season, but his presence still gives Texas another reason to pay attention to who is lining up across from it. Arch Manning noted the personal dynamics that can come with former teammates facing each other, which only underscores how much this game can stretch beyond the scoreboard. For Texas, the rivalry now carries a little extra locker-room history, and the Longhorns will see exactly how that plays once the teams take the field. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Could Get A Huge Red River Boost At Perfect Time
A bye week can be a handy reset in October, and Texas may be getting the timing just right with the Red River showdown looming. The Longhorns are heading into the Oklahoma game with several key pieces trending back toward full health, including senior running back Hollywood Smothers and sophomore tight end Nick Townsend, while junior defensive back Xaiver Filsaime is in line to make his season debut.
For a rivalry game that often comes down to depth as much as star power, that kind of reinforcements matters. Texas is still navigating the usual injury uncertainty this time of year, with several players from both sides listed as questionable or unavailable, but the Longhorns at least appear to be moving in the right direction at the perfect moment. [Read more 🡒]