Columbus, Ohio — Texas longahorn Quarterback Arch manning Ohio State failed to live up to high hopes in his early start on Saturday, but Texas coach Steve Sarkisian was called 14-7 losses Just “a chapter” in the season of Manning.
Maning was inconsistent, with scouts to see more than a dozen NFL teams, including nearby Cleveland Brown, showcased the glow of promises due to mistakes. He completed 17 out of 30 passes for 170 yards, 1 touchdown and a blockage – a weak day for a player has already taken up as the number 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
He also entered the game as the Hesmen Trophy favorite (+650) in the ESPN Bet Sportsbook.
“For Arc, expectations were out of control outwards,” said Sarkisian. “I would say that we finish the book before judging him. This is a chapter.”
Texas slowly started aggressively, struggling to make big plays. Manning was 0 -for -5 with a interception of a throw over a throw of more than 5 yards in the first three quarters. Sarkisian and Manning were sitting together in the locker room in half, and some went to the film and made some adjustments. In the fourth quarter, Manning completed 4 out of 7 passes for 105 yards and did a touchdown near more than 5 yards.
“They have received a good plan,” said Sarkisian. “They have found a very smart secondary, and they have done arc work. I thought Haftime, Arc is really a chance to sit and see tape and they understand some coverage that they were playing, I think it helped him to another half.”
Nevertheless, it was very low, it was too late. Texas had four drives that ended at Downs in Turnover, the highest since Maryland’s 2017 season-opening defeat. Longhorn failed to score on his two red zone drives, including just one inch-inch fourth stop from the round line, which ate in the third quarter by 6:54, 15-plays, 70-yard drives.
“I felt that hey, we do not give them a chance to submit real elders,” said Sarkisian. “We went with secretly. I think they got under us and took the legs out of the arc.
According to ESPN Research, Manning ended with an off-target percentage of 37%, the worst by Texas Quarterback in a game in the last decade.
Manning said, “It took us a long time to bring the ball down into the field.” “It starts with me. … They are a good team, but I thought we have defeated ourselves a lot. It starts with me, and I have to play better for us to win.”
Manning, whose running capacity is one of his strongest assets, added 38 yards to 10 carries, with his longest 15-yard burst. Longhorn’s left the Ohio State from 166–77 on the ground, and Sarkisian said he would prefer to include Manning’s running capacity first.
“I think when this happened, I felt as if he actually started playing,” Sarkisian said about Maning’s escape. “And we saw some real glow and a glimpse of the player that he is going to be here.”
Texas made four new starts on its aggressive line, but Maning had enough time to throw. They sometimes passed with accuracy, and other efforts were thrown behind high, low, or behind their receiver.
“I felt that the arch had a good time in the pocket to throw it,” said Sarkisian. “I felt as if we were pushing the line of scribe; we were driving the ball. We did not quickly make explosive drama as we did in the second part of the game. … I think we could throw it better, but we did not throw it in the way we wanted for O-line.
In Texas Florida, another power will not play 4 rivals till 4 October, and within the Longhorn’s program they agreed that aggressive issues are correct before the SEC slate begins.
“We had opportunities to score points and we did not,” said Sarkisian. “We got to make a one -two throw. We have got a pair to make a catch. We have received some better calls, but those things that are fine for us and I trust it.”
