Skip Bayless wasted little time weighing in on Texas quarteback Arch Manning’s shaky first half against No. 3 Ohio State.
The former FOX Sports personality took to social media with blunt assessment. “Now I better understand why Arch Manning couldn't beat out Quinn Ewers last year, Bayless wrote. "Arch Manning was wildly inaccurate in that first half (5-10 for 26 yds) and didn't demonstrate much poise or command. Yes, this is a tough place for a first road start but still … concerning.”
Now I better understand why Arch Manning couldn't beat out Quinn Ewers last year. Arch Manning was wildly inaccurate in that first half (5-10 for 26 yds) and didn't demonstrate much poise or command. Yes, this is a tough place for a first road start but still ... concerning.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) August 30, 2025
Manning struggled to find rhythm, missing open receivers and failing to generate any sustained drives. He looked tentative, even jittery, in the pocket something Bayless also pointed out when he wrote, “So far Arch Manning looks … surprisingly jittery, overamped. Maybe one big completion would settle him down.”
It’s worth highlighting just how disruptive Ohio State’s defense has been under new coordinator Matt Patricia. The Buckeyes have shown a sophisticated NFL-style mix of pressures and disguised coverages that clearly threw Manning off his timing. Patricia’s front has gotten consistent push, collapsing pockets and forcing Manning into hurried throws. In truth, Texas’ offensive struggles say as much about Ohio State’s defensive dominance as they do about Manning’s inexperience.
At halftime, the stats underline the grind. The teams combined for just 182 yards of offense, with Texas managing only four first downs. Oddsmakers adjusted accordingly with Ohio State carrying a 7-point lead into the locker room and sat as a 7.5-point live favorite on BetMGM.
We'll see if Manning and Texas can write a comeback story in the second half.
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