Analysts and commentators are throwing in the towel regarding Texas quarterback Arch Manning. It’s understandable because the redshirt sophomore mightily struggled in Week 3 on Saturday, albeit in a Longhorns win.
However, he’s only played three games as a full-time starter, so giving up on Manning this early in the 2025 season seems shortsighted. No. 7 Texas has one more non-conference game and then enters its eight-game docket in the loaded Southeastern Conference.
Arch Manning has put up modest numbers through three games
Before rushing to judgment, let’s see how the 6-foot-4, 219-pound native of New Orleans fares against SEC schools such as Florida, No. 13 Oklahoma and Kentucky, among others. On Saturday at home, the Longhorns had a lackluster 27-10 triumph over UTEP. Manning, the No. 1 national prospect in the 2023 class, went 11-of-25 for 114 yards with one touchdown and one interception against the Miners out of Conference USA.
Manning did rush nine times for 51 yards and two scores on the ground. Still, it was a poor outing for him versus UTEP. Through three games, with Texas going 2-1, Manning is completing 55.3 percent of his passes for 579 yards with six touchdowns and three picks.
As a rusher so far in 2025, he has carried the ball 23 times for 112 yards and three more scores. Without question, Manning hasn’t lived up to the hype through three contests in the 2025 campaign. But what if he turns things around and lights it up in SEC play?
Notable analysts have seen enough of Arch Manning
It’s way too early to make grand proclamations, although that’s what ESPN commentator/analyst Paul Finebaum and other talking heads are paid to do. Finebaum, speaking Sunday on ESPN’s “SportsCenter,” said he’s “out” on Manning.
“I gave it a shot. It blew up. I like Arch. He’s going to be a great player someday, maybe some year, but not this year. It’s over. Come on. You can’t look at three weeks and find a way for the front row in New York. So, nice knowing you, Arch. See you soon,” Finebaum said.
CBS Sports analyst Bryant McFadden was also not confident about Manning after the QB’s first-half struggles against UTEP.
Booger McFarland, an ESPN analyst, wrote on X about Manning, “Thru almost 3 games the most alarming thing is he is a very inaccurate qb consistently.”
McFarland’s comments are on point. But at least he’s not entirely giving up on Manning after three games.
