The Texas Longhorns are well in the midst of it all, chasing a spot in the College Football Playoff with three regular-season games left to decide their postseason fates.
At the center of that chase is senior quarterback Arch Manning, and whether fair or not, those hopes rest on the shoulders of the signal-caller.
The 2026 season has not been without adversity for Manning, with difficulties clear in the first three games of Southeastern Conference play.
In games against Tennessee, Oklahoma and Florida, Manning averaged just 211.3 yards per game. He had the same number of passing touchdowns as turnovers: four each. As a result, Oklahoma and Florida handed the Longhorns their only two losses of the season.
But since the midseason turmoil, the Longhorns are rolling with momentum, and while a lot has gone into Texas’ recent run of success, an improvement in Manning’s play as a passer has been a major factor.
“I do think he is finding his rhythm of passing the ball,” head coach Steve Sarkisian said on Monday. “A lot of that comes with confidence. I think his confidence is high, that he’s able to change speeds on his passes when he needs to rip it, when he can feather it.”
In the Longhorns’ current three-game winning streak, Manning has found his stride. He has completed 62 of 88 attempts for a 70.5% completion percentage, adding seven passing touchdowns with only two interceptions during that time.
In Texas’ win over Missouri, Manning had what seemed like his best game this season.
He ended 28-of-38 passing, totaling 297 yards through the air. For just the second time this season, he threw three touchdowns without an interception.
“I try to get better one day at a time,” Manning said. “(Missouri was) probably statistically my best game, I don’t know. But I still feel like I have a long ways to go, a lot of ways to get better.”
Manning’s success against the Tigers came largely from his ability to take what the defense gave him and involve a large number of his pass catchers, with eight separate players recording a reception on Saturday.
He wasn’t just successful in the quick game, because the quarterback also had success pushing the ball downfield against the Missouri defense.
The Texas signal caller was calculated and effective with those attempts. Manning completed 9-of-10 throws between 5 and 14 yards and was 3-of-6 on deep throws that were 15 yards or more. Texas found explosiveness against Missouri with six passing plays of 15 yards or more.
“He checked the ball down when he needed to,” Sarkisian said. “He got the ball to the tight ends, he got the ball to the runners. And I know sometimes those aren’t always the sexiest plays, but you throw a completion to your running back on first-and-10, you get six yards, you play second-and-4, that’s winning football.”
Manning will take his recent run of positive performances back on the road this weekend as the Longhorns travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to face the LSU Tigers.
The Tigers present a tough test for Manning and the rest of the Texas offense, as their defense sits second in the SEC in sacks and ranks third in fewest passing yards allowed per game.
The saying has always been, “It’s not how you start but how you finish,” and Manning heads into the final stretch of the regular season with momentum for a strong finish.
