The Arch Manning Fall Camp Panic Has Gone Way Too Far

Overreactions are nothing new for Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning. All it took was a few games into last season- his first as the full-time quarterback on the Forty Acres- for him to be dubbed college football’s first “flop.”

Now, as he enters his second season, and despite a strong finish to last season, there are already concerns building after a second fall camp scrimmage that didn’t exactly see Manning light the world on fire.

"I felt like today, similar to last week at the start, a little bit inefficient. I feel like he could be better," Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said of Manning’s performance.

Then added that he felt Manning brought a little more energy and sharpness, which would have a trickle-down effect for the team.

Don’t Hit the Panic Button

Dec 31, 2025; Orlando, FL, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) and Michigan Wolverines quarterback Bryce Underwood (19) shake hands after a game at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Not being exactly sharp or efficient enough isn’t what you’d like to hear about a quarterback entering his second year. Yet, the same can be said about hearing that he’s being too conservative or reluctant to stay in the pocket or push the football downfield.

Manning showed late last season that when the lights came on, he found a way to be at his best. Even in the Longhorns' lone loss of their final eight games, he still gave Texas a chance to win at Georgia.

If it wasn’t for a few drops by his wide receivers, Texas may have experienced a different fate in Athens before the infamous onside kick relegated Manning and company to the sidelines as the Bulldogs took control in the fourth quarter.

Fast forward a few weeks later to the regular-season finale versus then-undefeated Texas A&M, and Manning helps close out that game with a 35-yard rushing touchdown, eerily reminiscent of a play made years earlier by Colt McCoy.

As much as fall camp is about finding a rhythm and starting the process of establishing an identity as a team, it is also an important time for a quarterback like Manning to experiment. With a retooled supporting cast, Manning needs to be testing his limits in practice, throwing into tighter windows than he normally would, just to see what he can get away with.

Sure, it may make you less efficient in practice and scrimmages, but it’s much better than trying to do it when it actually counts and costs Texas a game.

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