Ever since Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning was humbled in Week 1 against Ohio State, the expectations for his 2025 season shifted.
No longer was his redshirt sophomore season about propelling himself to the top of the 2026 NFL Draft. Instead, the focus shifted to getting Manning to look like his 2024 self, the quarterback who dismantled lesser competition and fueled a runway hype train.
The rebound wasn't immediate. In cannon fodder contests against San Jose State and UTEP, Texas steamrolled its way to two victories. Manning wasn't a significant part of that equation. He logged an interception in each game and hadn't posted a completion percentage above 65%.
In Week 4, that changed against Sam Houston State. Naturally, that lent itself to another Manning headline.
Arch Manning has gone viral again
The biggest takeaway from Manning's Week 4 win should have been his first promising performance of the year. Instead, social media was hyperfixated on the touchdown celebration heard 'round the world.
At the end of the first quarter, Manning scampered into the end zone on a short run after side-stepping a potential tackler and shedding another as he crossed the goal line. His celebration was indeed incendiary, standing over a Sam Houston defender and staring him down.
Arch Manning after scoring this TD 😤 pic.twitter.com/39fEnfclXi
— ESPN (@espn) September 21, 2025
It certainly wasn't the most tasteful celebration. Manning hasn't been playing well, the Bearkats aren't exactly an NFL pipeline, and the score wasn't some feat of athletic prowess. The stunt could reasonably be perceived as a lack of feel, fairly similar to the criticism Shedeur Sanders garnered at Colorado. A referee reprimanded him on his way to the sideline, too, although he didn't throw a flag.
Yet, I find myself unbothered by the incident. Manning is under the most pressure of any quarterback in college football. The target is on his back, on and off the field, and his every move is under the microscope. At 21 years old, an over-the-top celebration is quite forgivable.
After the game, Manning was calmer and (understandably) more amicable.
"Yeah, felt good to get back in the end zone. Probably a little much there [in staring down the defender]," Manning said, via Horns247. "My mom was pretty mad about that. Little immature, but I think it's some built-up frustration for the past few weeks."
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Perhaps Manning has his swagger back. He certainly looked the part on Saturday. In a 55-0 win, he completed 18-of-21 passes for 309 yards and three scores, along with another two touchdowns on the ground. For the first time in 2025, Manning looked comfortable, accurate, and in control of the offense.
Saturday didn't put Manning back on the No. 1 pick radar. It remains more likely that he returns to Texas to rebuild his stock next season. But with an SEC schedule looming, including No. 7 Oklahoma in Week 6, with Georgia and Texas A&M later in the year, the opportunity for him to rebound against high-level competition awaits.
There's a chance Manning can point to this Sam Houston score as the turning point of his season. If so, the Longhorns would look awfully dangerous down the stretch.
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