Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian tried to strike a balanced tone after Arch Manning’s highly anticipated debut as the Longhorns’ starting quarterback ended in a 14–7 loss at Ohio State.
While Manning endured a rough first half and finished with modest numbers, Sarkisian highlighted the positives and urged patience as the young signal-caller tried to establish consistency.
“We saw some real flashes and glimpses of the type of player that he’s going to become here,” Sarkisian said postgame. “Sure, he’s going to watch the tape and say, ‘man, I wish this. I wish that.’ That’s the life of a competitor, but I think there’s a lot to hold onto of what the future is going to look like for Arch Manning here.”
"There's a lot to hold onto of what the future's gonna look like for Arch Manning, so we're excited about that."
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) August 30, 2025
Texas HC Steve Sarkisian shares his thoughts on Arch Manning's performance vs. Ohio State. pic.twitter.com/nDYWtjhhXc
Manning’s start was bumpy. Through two quarters, he managed just 26 passing yards, struggling to generate rhythm against a Buckeye defense that looked prepared for his every move.
An interception in the second half only added to the rocky outing. But a 32-yard touchdown strike to freshman Parker Livingstone late in the game showcased the skill set that made Manning a top recruit. He finished 17-of-30 for 170 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Despite the shaky first half, the quarterback didn’t unravel in a hostile environment. “I thought Arch’s poise and composure was really good in this game,” Sarkisian said. “I didn’t feel like he got rattled. I think I learned about him a little bit playing that I’ve got to let him go play. That’ll help us, but he’s going to be a really good leader.”
FOX’s Tom Rinaldi shared that at halftime, Sarkisian’s message to Manning was simple to get him some completions and the offense would settle. While the results weren’t immediate, that approach ultimately paid off in the fourth quarter when Manning directed Texas’ lone scoring drive.
“For Arch, the expectations were out of control on the outside,” Sarkisian said. “I’d say let’s finish the book before we judge him. That’s one chapter.”
Asked about Arch Manning meeting his expectations vs. the outside expectations, Texas HC Steve Sarkisian says:
— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) August 30, 2025
“The expectations were out of control on the outside. But I'd say let's finish the book before we judge it. This is one chapter, and we got a long season to go play.” pic.twitter.com/NiBtixeum4
Beyond Manning, Sarkisian pointed to execution issues that cost Texas scoring chances. A failed fourth-down quarterback sneak from the one-yard line said everything about the Longhorns’ red-zone frustrations. Sarkisian admitted he would handle the sequence differently in hindsight, suggesting he should have allowed for substitutions to match Ohio State’s personnel.
The loss was a deflating start for a Texas team ranked No. 1 in the preseason AP poll. They'll look to bounce back ahead of a packed SEC schedule.
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