“I’m disappointed in how I played and how we played. Got to be better,” Manning stated during his press conference once the game concluded. It is clear that the quarterback’s high standards for himself do not allow him to have any dips in his performance.

A winning team needs players with a winning mentality. The Longhorns have that type of leader in Manning, who is looking to take his game to the highest level in pursuit of great things in the NCAAF.

Why was Manning not satisfied?

Arch Manning went 16-of-32 for 161 yards, two touchdown passes to Isaiah Coleman, and an interception in Texas’ 30-6 win over UTSA. Despite getting the W and throwing those early TDs, Arch wasn’t too thrilled with how things played out.

He struggled to build rhythm while under constant pressure, took a beating behind a shaky offensive line, and missed a bunch of throws that kept the Longhorns from pulling away earlier. Between the continuous scrambles, heavy hits, and a sub-50% completion rate, it definitely felt like a frustrating and sloppy outing for him.

Sarkisian prepares for what’s ahead

While the Longhorns have started their season undefeated, it is clear that the competition is very even and they cannot afford to let their guard down. Steve Sarkisian, the mastermind behind this team, made that clear to the media following the win over UTSA.

“Anybody can beat anybody in the SEC. We’ve learned that, so we’ve got to get ourselves ready to go in all three phases come next Saturday,” the head coach stated.

What’s next for Texas?

The Longhorns are heading into a brutal three-game stretch. It all kicks off this Saturday, September 26th, with a road test against Tennessee at Neyland Stadium—a hostile environment to see what this team is made of away from home.

After a well-timed bye week to tweak the offense, they gear up for the main event on October 10th: the Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl, that neutral-site classic that always turns into a total pressure cooker. To cap off the run, Texas returns to Austin on October 17th to host Florida for what should be another high-intensity SEC clash.

“So proud of our guys,” Manning said to the reporters once the game concluded. “In all three phases. It wasn’t very pretty but we found a win to win. That’s what good teams do.”

In some way, No. 16 made it clear that they got revenge for what happened the last time the Longhorns and Buckeyes met on the field: “We couldn’t lose to them again. I had nightmares about that game last year. So, we’re glad to get a win tonight. We’ll have a good night in Austin.”

Manning’s performance against Ohio State

Arch Manning had a wild night in Texas’ epic 24-23 comeback win vs Buckeyes, proving he’s got that clutch gene when it matters most. After a brutal start where the Longhorns found themselves trailing 23-3 entering the fourth quarter, Arch completely flipped the script.

He finished the game 23-of-37 for 196 passing yards, one touchdown, and an early interception. The stat line overall looks pretty average on paper, but his fourth-quarter heroics were insane: he went 8-for-11 for 91 yards down the stretch, throwing a slick 3-yard TD pass to Ryan Wingo and pulling off two massive fourth-down conversions to seal the largest fourth-quarter comeback against a No. 1 team in history.

What’s next for the Longhorns?

Two wins in two games, and the contender label is slowly beginning to be applied to Steve Sarkisian’s team. These are the upcoming games the Longhorns have ahead, as they look to continue building on their winning record.

• vs UTSA, September 19
• at Tennessee, September 26
• vs Oklahoma, October 10 (Cotton Bowl)
• vs Florida, October 17
• vs Ole Miss, October 24

Sarkisian wants to face the best

The nature of college football often leads programs to face teams from higher tiers, as well as weaker opponents. Sarkisian, an experienced coach, does not want to take the easy route. Instead, he chooses to face quality opponents and set the bar as high as possible.

“We could be like other teams and play Jones Junior High tonight and win 66–0. I don’t know what that does for us. What I think it does for us, is we found out we can (win big games),” Coach Sark revealed during his press conference.

“Did some really good things in the first game of the year this past Saturday. He can beat you with his legs. He can beat you down field. He can make the throws when he needs to. He’s really improved,” the head coach said via on3.com.

Day also added: “And giving him a lot of credit for putting the work in, and then also give Sark and his staff credit for continuing to develop him. So he’s gonna have a great season, and he’s gonna be a great challenge for our defense.”

Visiting Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium is always a risky proposition for any team, even for a contender like the Buckeyes. Ryan Day is expecting a great spectacle in Texas: “Everybody’s getting fired up to go play down there.”

Ryan Day’s record against the Longhorns

Ryan Day boasts a perfect 2-0 record against the Longhorns as head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes. His first victory came in the 2024 College Football Playoff semifinals, where Ohio State ended Texas’ season with a 28-14 win.

He followed that up in the 2025 season opener, guiding the Buckeyes to a 14-7 victory over Steve Sarkisian‘s squad in Columbus. Day has consistently had the upper hand against the Longhorns in these high-stakes, marquee matchups, holding a pristine mark as they head into their next scheduled showdown in Austin.

Manning had a smooth debut

Arch Manning kicked off Texas’ 2026 season in dominant fashion, leading the Longhorns to a 59-7 blowout victory against Texas State. Playing with sharp efficiency before resting in the third quarter, Manning completed 20 of 27 passes (74.1%) for 305 yards, throwing 4 touchdowns and just 1 interception for an impressive 210.4 passer rating.

A highly anticipated showdown

Nearly 100,000 fans are expected to attend the highly anticipated showdown between Texas and Ohio State, with an even larger audience expected to watch the game on television. “I bet there’s close to 20 million people that watch this game,” Sarkisian said to the press. “That’s pretty cool when you think about it.”

Asked about the biggest controversy in Week 1 of the NCAA campaign, Michigan‘s last-second Hail Mary victory over Western Michigan in Ann Arbor, Sarkisian delivered a sincere, confused answer that only expressed concern about the Big Ten officiating crew responsible for adding one second to the clock and allowing the miraculous touchdown catch.

“I still don’t understand or get the final ruling of it all,” Sarkisian said about the controversial call, via On Texas Football. “Unfortunate for Western Michigan, to play their tails off the way that they did and to lose like that.

“I’ve lost a game on a Hail Mary before and that definitely sucks. I don’t know the exact ruling on the timing. There’s a lot of moving parts that I’m not going to pretend to know everything about. My biggest shock was that they stormed the field.”

Sarkisian’s comments mean more before Ohio State game

With the matchup against the Buckeyes looming on the immediate horizon, Sarkisian’s statement on the officiating crew carries much more weight. Hosting No. 1 Ohio State, there is a lot for No. 5 Texas to be anxious about.

Not only will the Longhorns be taking on whom Sarkisian considers to be the best wide receiver in college football in Jeremiah Smith, but they’ll also face a squad filled with five-star talents that defeated Texas and really made the Longhorns look bad last NCAA season.

In addition to it all, the game at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium will be officiated by a Big Ten crew. That means Sarkisian’s comments on Michigan’s controversial win also hide a dig at those who will be responsible for Texas’ fate next Saturday. By all looks of it, it sure feels like Sarkisian and the burnt orange are keeping their guards up.

Why is Big Ten officiating Ohio State at Texas?

This was agreed upon by both schools when they committed to the home-and-home series for the 2025 and 2026 college football seasons. It’s a common practice across the country for the visiting team’s conference to provide the officiating crew, and this is no different. In fact, it was an SEC officiating crew that was in charge last year when the Buckeyes defeated the Longhorns 14-7 in Week 1.

“I think, one, he garners your attention, and he deserves our attention,” coach Sark, per Chase Brown of Eleven Warriors. “He’s arguably the best player in college football. The challenge is, with him, it’s the size, speed, catch radius. He’s a big, physical guy who can cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time. It doesn’t always look like it, but it almost feels like it. You can feel his presence on the field.”

Smith is one of the top prospects for the upcoming NFL Draft, thanks to his physical attributes and exceptional talent, which stand out among the receivers in this class. Sarkisian even went as far as comparing him to established stars such as Julio Jones and A.J. Brown.

“When you just talk about body structure, this guy looks like Julio Jones, this guy looks like AJ Brown physically,” the head coach added. “He can cover ground and then, because he’s so strong, 50-50 catches are difficult with him. You have to have a plan.”

How does Sarkisian plan to stop Smith?

Sarkisian made it clear that stopping Smith requires a solid game plan. Names such as Bo Mascoe and Kade Phillips, along with Jelani McDonald and Xavier Filsaime, could be the players tasked with executing it, but they will have to be precise.

“I think like anything when you have a plan against somebody like him, you can’t just throw all fastballs,” Sarkisian said. “As good as a fastball as you have, if that’s all you got, sooner or later you’re gonna hit it.”

An early championship clash

The Longhorns are set to host Ohio State on Saturday, September 12, 2026, under the lights at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin. Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM ET, and with a sellout crowd of over 100,000 fans expected, the energy in Austin is going to be absolutely off the charts.

Smith’s projection for the upcoming Draft

Jeremiah Smith is projected as an early first-round selection in the 2027 NFL Draft, with most evaluators placing him as a top-two overall prospect. Scouts consider him a rare talent at wide receiver due to his size, route-running precision, and physical dominance at the catch point. Unless a quarterback-needy team holds the top pick, he is widely expected to be the first non-quarterback off the board.

“Like anything, he’s human. There’s a couple misreads, but geez, you know, he’s over 300 yards, four touchdowns, managed the game really well, and was very efficient,” Sark stated during his press conference.

Manning, for his part, revealed that he felt very comfortable with his team’s offensive firepower: “I like how we got a lot of guys involved. Seems like we have a lot of playmakers.”

It will be a pivotal season for No. 16, with many already projecting him as a potential No. 1 pick in the next draft. Will Manning be able to fix his mistakes and make the big leap in his career?

Arch Manning’s numbers against Texas State

Starting his first full year at the helm, Arch Manning couldn’t have scripted a smoother 2026 debut, leading No. 5 Texas to a dominant 59-7 blowout over Texas State. The n.16 was locked in, slinging it for 305 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, and completing 20 of 27 passes before taking a well-earned rest early in the third quarter.

Outside of a single end-zone pick right before halftime, he ran the offense with surgical precision, connecting big with transfer targets like Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo to put the Longhorns up comfortably before gear-shifting into next week’s monster matchup against Ohio State Buckeyes.

Keep moving forward

Steve Sarkisian‘s team got off to a strong start to the season, but what lies ahead will be far from easy. Getting into the SEC title race means picking up as many positive results as possible early in the campaign, something the Longhorns will look to secure in their upcoming games:

• Week 2, vs Ohio State (September 12)
• Week 3, vs UTSA (September 19)
• Week 4, at Tennessee (September 26)
• Week 5, vs Oklahoma (October 10) – Cotton Bowl
• Week 6, vs Florida (October 17)

The Tigers’ classic in Baton Rouge has only heated up on the eve of the Week 1 showdown between LSU and Clemson. Kiffin can thank his school’s interest in and landing of former NFL players for that, as Swinney didn’t mince words on the subject and even had a pointed dig for the former Ole Miss head coach.

“It’s kind of embarrassing, Honestly, it’s embarrassing that’s where we are. I don’t blame the kids, but people trying to take advantage of the system. It’s embarrassing but we’ve been there for a while. No pun intended but we’re just going to stay in our lane,” Swinney said about NFL players being back as school athletes, via ESPN’s David Hale, while making a play on Kiffin’s first name.

Sarkisian calls Kiffin, LSU’s strategy ‘morally wrong’

Swinney didn’t sugarcoat his thoughts on what Kiffin and the Tigers from Louisiana State have been up to ahead of the 2026 NCAA football campaign. Neither did Steve Sarkisian, whose Longhorns—like Swinney’s Tigers—will have to take on the LSU Tigers on the road this year.

Going into one of the toughest environments in the country, Texas knows it will have its hands full against LSU, which could also happen to start players who were on NFL rosters not too long ago. Asked about the controversy and whether the SEC made the right decision by announcing a rule banning former NFL players from playing college football, Sarkisian made a clear admission.

“These players on all of the rosters, not just ours, have been working for nine months for this moment. The fact that somebody out there is going to take a player off of an NFL roster and tell somebody who’s been doing it for nine months go kick rocks, that doesn’t sit well with me. I think that’s wrong, that’s morally wrong,” Sarkisian stated during a press conference ahead of Texas’ season opener. “So I think our presidents, athletic directors, and chancellors got it right. We will support it and fall in line.”

Why Texas’ NFL player Cole Hutson is different?

Sarkisian and the Longhorns also benefited from a courthouse ruling granting players an extra year of eligibility. Cole Hutson is returning to Texas for his fifth year of college football after going undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft. Hutson attended the Cleveland Browns’ and Dallas Cowboys’ minicamps before returning to his alma mater in Austin.

The main differences between his case and that of Dae’Quan Wright, to name one of LSU’s former pro players, are that Hutson didn’t participate in an NFL training camp, didn’t sign an NFL contract, nor did he play in a preseason game. He’s also returning to his school of origin rather than transferring within the conference.

Wright checks all of those boxes, which makes his transfer to LSU from the NFL and Ole Miss one of the more controversial and candid topics in college football. And mixed in the middle of it all is none other than Kiffin.

Kiffin in the eye of the storm

Sarkisian didn’t even have to name Kiffin or LSU, yet everybody knew who he was talking about. Lane Kiffin has truly embraced the villain role ahead of the 2026 NCAA season, starting last season when he left the University of Mississippi ahead of the College Football Playoffs for a head-coaching job at Louisiana State University.

Many thought that was the peak of his public enemy No. 1 status in college sports, but Kiffin hasn’t lowered the bar one bit. Being the main bidder for NFL players returning to college was the last straw, however. Kiffin recently admitted that although he’s had his doubts about going down this path, he has no regrets because his team is behind him.

“I met with the leadership committee of our players and I asked them ‘what do you want to do?’ Every one of them was emphatic that if they can help us win, bring them. This is how the real world works,” Kiffin said per FOX’s Trey Wallace. “That made me feel a little better in the struggle and being torn back and forth.”

Why SEC may not be able to stop LSU

Although the Southeastern Conference announced a rule banning former NFL players from playing college football, the rule may prove futile against a state court’s latest ruling. A Louisiana state judge signed a temporary restraining order preventing the SEC from enforcing the new rule, which promises hefty sanctions and bans for players who previously signed professional contracts in the NFL, NBA or WNBA.

It’s become a trend in college football. The NCAA and conferences say one thing, a state court rules another, and they engage in a dramatic bottleneck, with the careers of young athletes at stake. That’s the case for Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, who have committed to LSU after short stints in the NFL.

The players state that they only declared for the NFL Draft due to unclear rules at the time and would have stayed in college had they been guaranteed the chance to play in the 2026 season. That was only possible after a state court granted them, and many other players, an extra year of eligibility. Virtually no one blames the athletes, but it’s clear there aren’t many fans of LSU’s decision to go after Kiffin’s former players at Ole Miss, either.

“The players in that locker room love him. I mean, he’s a guy’s guy,” Sarkisian said to On3. “That was always the thing that I was on him about, and I love this about Arch, but I would say, ‘You need to go lead. You’re the leader.’ He would say, ‘I just don’t feel like I’ve earned it yet.’

“That’s important to him, that he earns everything he gets. But the players were the ones building him up to go lead. They wanted to follow him, and the moment he did, you could see a difference in our team.”

Growing stronger step by step

Being part of a legacy like the Mannings—with stars such as Eli and Peyton—is no easy task. Arch faced excessive criticism and opinions during his debut as QB1 at Texas, but his coach insists he rose to the occasion.

“Ninety-nine percent of kids would have melted last year if they had to endure what he endured, and all Arch did was get stronger,” Sarkisian told On3’s Chris Low.

Improving on his previous season

After a historic 2025 campaign with the Texas Longhorns, Arch Manning enters the 2026 season as the Heisman frontrunner. Last year, he shattered expectations by throwing for 4,103 yards and 38 touchdowns with only 6 interceptions, leading Texas to a dominant 13–1 record.

Boasting an elite 68.4% completion rate, Manning is now focused on improving his mobility after recording 312 rushing yards and 5 scores on the ground. With a veteran core of playmakers returning, he is poised to elevate his dual-threat production even further within Steve Sarkisian’s high-powered system.

What will Manning do with his future?

Although Arch Manning is eligible for the 2027 NFL Draft, the 2026 season may not necessarily be his last at the collegiate level. Currently a redshirt junior, Manning technically holds an additional year of eligibility for 2027 due to his redshirt status in 2023 and limited snaps in 2024.

While he is widely projected as a potential number one overall pick, his family has historically prioritized completing four full years of college development before turning pro. Ultimately, whether he declares for the draft or returns to Austin for a final season will depend on his performance this year and his desire to follow the seasoned path set by his uncles, Peyton and Eli.

“For Arch, the progress has been on par with where he should be,” Sarkisian admitted, via On3. “He was throwing the ball today. Threw it really well. You know, we’ll gradually work him back in again. I’m not in a rush.”

In college football, every rep counts. Still, the Longhorns can afford to take their sweet time with Manning. In the meantime, Texas can focus on developing the rest of the quarterbacks in the program. These include Karle Lacey Jr. (redshirt freshman), Dia Bell (true freshman), MJ Morris (senior), and Luke Dunham (sophomore).

With Arch projected to declare for the 2027 NFL Draft, and teams like the Cleveland Browns remaining interested in Manning, all signs indicate Bell—a five star recruit out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida—will be the quarterback of the future at The Forty Acres.

Manning’s offseason surgery

As Arch’s father, Cooper Manning, admitted, the Longhorns’ signal-caller played through a foot injury during the entire 2025 NCAA season. As reported by CBS Sports, the injury to his foot was sustained in 2024’s Lone Star Showdown against the Texas A&M Aggies.

After receiving treatment and therapy for the ailment, Manning—in agreement with the University of Texas at Austin’s medical staff—decided it was best to nip the problem in the bud. Manning is now limited as the Longhorns start their spring practices, but that’s a reasonable price to pay rather than have their star quarterback feeling uneasy and shy of 100% come fall.

If Texas’ season goes as the burnt orange hopes, the Horns should play meaningful games in the winter. Thus, if Manning slings fewer footballs in March and April, it’s really nothing to stress about.

Coming into the year, Manning, Sarkisian, and Texas expected to compete for a National Championship come January. However, the Longhorns will see their season end before the ball drops in Times Square to ring in 2026. Needless to say, this isn’t how anyone in Austin expected the campaign to turn out. Now, it’s time to address certain areas and regroup. On that note, an assistant coach on Sarkisian’s staff has been relieved of his duties, as reported by Inside Texas.

Assistant coach Chad Scott’s time with the Longhorns was short-lived. The 44-year-old had been hired by Texas in February 2025 to be the program’s running backs coach. Less than one year after, he has been shown the exit door at The Forty Acres.

Last season, Scott had been named the interim head coach for the West Virginia Mountaineers. Scott had spent five NCAA seasons with the school in Morgantown, serving as co-offensive coordinator, run-game coordinator, offensive coordinator, and running backs coach.

Texas’ run game struggled under Scott

There are several signs that help paint a clear picture on why Scott has now been fired by Texas. Redshirt sophomore CJ Baxter opting to enter the transfer portal may as well be one of them. However, it doesn’t end there.

Through 12 games in the 2025 NCAA campaign, the Longhorns have registered a total of 1,556 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns—both marks are the lowest since Sarkisian took over as head coach ahead of the 2021 season. Moreover, the fact that Manning was the team’s second-place rushing leader with 244 yards on the ground can’t be overlooked. It was the first time in Sarkisian’s Texas tenure that the Longhorns had a quarterback finish among the rushing podium.

Some may make the case that the Longhorns’ low rushing totals are a consequence of the SEC being a pass-first environment. But Texas still ranks among the bottom-five in the conference in average rushing yards per game—129.67 yards on average—only standing above LSU, South Carolina, Alabama, and Oklahoma.

Rumor mill around Texas’ next RB coach

Though still a long way out from the 2026 college football season, Sarkisian and Texas would like to fill the vacant spot on the staff as soon as possible. On that note, several reports have emerged naming potential candidates to replace Scott at the RB coach position. One name gaining significant traction as of late is former Florida Gators running backs coach and associate head coach Jabbar Juluke.

Although the Gators’ rushing stats from the past season are far from mind-blowing, the ground game’s struggles can also be credited to the overall chaos that characterized Florida’s year. Most importantly, the inconsistent passing offense frequently took the wind out of the running attack’s sails. When the opposing defense has nothing to fear through the air, it’s much easier to stack the box and neutralize the ground game.

Still, despite the offensive woes, Juluke has shown great ability in helping Jadan Baugh blossom into a star in college football. After Texas watched Baxter enter the portal, the Horns could have great use for a coach who can help star talents reach their full potential. Needless to say, Manning and the offense would greatly benefit from having a bona fide RB1.

Many fans in Austin are still upset about Manning and the Longhorns not playing in the College Football Playoff. However, others have seemingly made their peace with that fact. On that note, some players on the program are now looking to make the best decision for their careers in the NCAA.

On that note, quarterback Trey Owens has decided it’s best for him to search for a fresh start in college football. The former four-star quarterback recruit out of Cy-Fair High School in Cypress, Texas, has now told Sarkisian and company he plans to enter the NCAA’s transfer portal, as reported by On3.

Wasn’t to be for Owens in Texas

A five-hour drive separates Cypress from Austin. For a kid born and raised in the Lone Star State, playing for the Texas Longhorns was a dream come true. However, Owens could never establish himself at The Forty Acres.

A member of the 2024 recruiting class, Owens was behind Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning on the depth chart during his freshman season. He registered two appearances during his first year in college football, but that was about it. Following the arrival of Troy transfer Matthew Caldwell prior to the 2025 NCAA season, Owens’ playing opportunities shrunk even further. As a result, he never stepped on the field in the 2025 campaign.

Owens is making his decision before Manning confirms his

Ahead of the 2026 campaign, Manning is expected to stay in college. But even if the heir to football’s royal QB family surprisingly declared for the Draft, the arrival of five-star quarterback Dia Bell would mean Owens would have to start from behind to compete for the starting job again.

Instead, the redshirt freshman is opting to transfer to a new program for his sophomore season. Owens will have three years of eligibility remaining in college football.