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Arch Manning acknowledged that he struggled during the first half of last season due to not having fun. He believes that enjoying the game is key to his improvement as Texas' starting quarterback.
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Arch Manning didnāt have fun the first half of last season. His words.
He played ticked off.
The result? Not good.
Manning wobbled out of the gates in his first season as the Texas starting quarterback. The critiques and hot takes came from all corners.
He went from being the best college quarterback since Tim Tebow to college footballās first-ever flop ā thatās how the New York Times described it, in a piece worthy of the Hyperbole Hall of Fame ā in a matter of weeks.
Penthouse to outhouse at warp speed.
Through five games, Texas had two losses. Manningās performance, while not terrible, was nowhere near what weād expected from a blue-chipper with the most famous surname in college football.
Someone with Manningās pedigree surely had undergone countless media trainings and mental coaching to try prepare him for the pressure, and he probably also picked up on a few family tricks via osmosis, but Iām not sure any amount of prep work could have fully prepared him for the hurricane of scrutiny he faced.
These guys are getting paid now, so criticism comes with the territory ā now more than ever. And, still, few college athletes will ever be under the magnifying glass to the same extent Manning was in 2025.
Manning, while talking to reporters this week at Texas, gave a frank self-assessment of his 2025 performance and how it affected him.
āI think I could have had more fun. The first half of the season, I was (ticked off)," Manning told reporters. āI wasn't playing well, and it wasn't fun for me.ā
So, Manning opted for a midseason pivot in mentality that can be summed up in two words.
Screw it.
Again, his words.
Whatever works.
Arch Manning admitted that he didn't have fun during the first half of last season, which negatively impacted his performance.
Manning faced significant challenges, receiving harsh critiques and being labeled as college football's first-ever flop by some media outlets.
Manning believes that having more fun while playing is crucial to his improvement as a quarterback.
The New York Times compared Arch Manning to Tim Tebow, calling him the best college quarterback since Tebow before his struggles began.

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Texas quarterback Arch Manning leaves the field after his team's loss to Ohio State at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 30, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.
The second half of the season was not without hiccup.
He struggled against Kentucky. Texas pulled it out.
He struggled against Georgia. The Longhorns got trounced.
He didnāt play great against Texas A&M. The Longhorns prevailed.
[****This column first published in ourĀ SEC Unfilterednewsletter, emailedĀ freeĀ to your inbox.Ā Sign up hereĀ for more commentary like this.]**
Overall, though, Manning made gains in the second half of the season. He finished with a particularly strong performance against Michigan in the Citrus Bowl.
So, was his mentality change the key, or did he just improve as he gained more experience?
The answer may not matter, so long as the progress continues.
No matter how much he develops, one man can only do so much. For Texas to pursue a national championship, Manning will need sturdier pass protection and more ground support. Texas gave Manning another weapon by adding Auburn transfer Cam Coleman, a star wide receiver, to pair with Ryan Wingo, the teamās top wide receiver last season.
Week 2 will be a progress report for Manning. The Longhorns will host Ohio State. Manning played poorly for most of the game in a 14-7 loss to Ohio State in last seasonās opener.
Thatās probably part of what ticked him off.
āYou obviously take those (scars) with you and think about them,ā Manning told reporters. āI'm glad we get another shot at them this year."
Just remember to have some fun out there in the rematch.
Blake ToppmeyerĀ is the USA TODAY Network's senior national college football columnist. Email him atĀ BToppmeyer@gannett.comĀ and follow him on XĀ @btoppme
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arch Manning says Texas season 'wasn't fun,' until he changed outlook