Steve Sarkisian Gets Candid About Arch Manning's Growing Confidence

The Texas Longhorns have sky-high expectations surrounding them ahead of the 2026 season, looking to find a way back into the College Football Playoffs after finding themselves on the outside looking in at the end of 2025.

While those expectations are known, perhaps no one knows it more than quarterback Arch Manning, who dealt with unfair, and, oftentimes, unfair, expectations placed on him as a first-time full-year starter after abiding his time in the program.

Manning is now more mature and is ready to show he is capable of being the quarterback everyone has awaited him to be, but more importantly than that, head coach Steve Sarkisian has challenged himself to be himself more, and through fall camp for the Longhorns, he has, which could spell trouble for the rest of college football.

Manning is Ready to be His Self in 2026

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian talks with quarterback Arch Manning (16) during a timeout in the second half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

All eyes were on Manning entering the 2025 season and while dealing with unrealistic expectations, Manning made the most out of his debut year, often times being the shining light of a Longhorns offense that was struggling. Now, ahead of 2026, Manning is looking to take success a step farther, but that begins with embracing who he is, starting in fall camp.

"I think the team responds really well to Arch; he loves football, he loves to practice," Sarkisaid said of his quarterback. "It's funny because Arch probably talks a little more shit than what people give him credit for outside of our building. So in practice there's a good amount of banter that goes on. Now Arch has more confidence; he gives a little more of that banter"

Surrounded by talent, Manning will have one of the best-constructed rosters in the country, and there is a clear difference in how he is attacking the few weeks before the season begins. The intensity is ramped up, and with the physicality increasing as well, Manning is loving every minute of it.

"He and Colin [Simmons] were getting into it about a screenplay today," Sarkisian continued about how Manning's competitive drive has ignited during camp. "It was all out of fun, but you can see they are loving practice; they are all loving practice, and that starts when the quarterback loves practice and when he is having fun out there."

Seemingly allowing himself to be shown more, Manning is becoming unapologetically himself, and as his confidence has increased off the field, it should reflect on the field, and that could spell trouble for the rest of the college football world if Manning is playing with some swagger.

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