Arch Manning has completed two starts for Texas, posting mixed results that have sparked debate about whether the five-star recruit can live up to his Hall of Fame bloodline.
The Longhorns quarterback went 17-of-30 for 170 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a 14-7 loss to No. 3 Ohio State. His QBR of 56.3 showed the struggles of adjusting to elite competition.
Manning bounced back in Week 2.
Against San Jose State, he completed 19-of-30 passes for 295 yards and four touchdowns with one interception. Texas won 38-7, and Manning’s QBR jumped to 74.4.
The performance against a weaker opponent hasn’t quieted critics who point to Manning’s recruiting profile as the No. 1 overall prospect in his class. Being the grandson of Archie Manning and nephew to Peyton and Eli Manning adds pressure to every snap.
History shows even Manning family quarterbacks needed time to develop.
Peyton Manning threw just one touchdown in his first two games at Tennessee in 1994. Eli Manning’s early outings at Ole Miss were similarly quiet. What Arch faces today—with NIL deals and constant national TV coverage—creates more pressure than his uncles experienced.
Manning’s arm strength and accuracy showed promise in his second game. The week-to-week improvement is encouraging under head coach Steve Sarkisian, who’s known for developing quarterbacks.
His current numbers through two games: 465 yards, five touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 63.0 QBR.
Those stats aren’t spectacular but they’re solid considering the competition. Ohio State is the defending national champion and ranked No. 1 for good reason. They won the 12-team College Football Playoff last season.
Nobody expected Manning to dominate the Buckeyes in Columbus right away.
Compared to other high-profile quarterbacks like Caleb Williams and Trevor Lawrence early in their careers, Manning’s start falls somewhere in the middle. He’s shown flashes of elite talent while learning on the job.
Whether Manning is overrated depends on expectations. If you expected a Heisman Trophy contender by Week 2, then yes. If you expected a quarterback showing progress and development, then no.
Manning doesn’t need to match his family legacy overnight. But if his trajectory continues, he may start building his own legacy in Austin.
