What Longhorns QB Arch Manning needs to improve on to be No. 1 pick

Yahoo Sports2h ago13 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

Texas Longhorns QB Arch Manning has shown significant improvement during the 2025 season, overcoming early struggles. Key areas for his development remain to secure a potential No. 1 draft pick status.

Key points

Arch Manning showed improvement during the 2025 season
He struggled early due to youth and lack of experience
Manning turned a corner after the loss to Florida
He had solid performances against Oklahoma and Mississippi State

Texas LonghornsArch Manningcollege footballRed River Shootout

What Longhorns QB Arch Manning needs to improve on to be No. 1 pick

The best thing about the 2025 season for the Texas Longhorns was watching, in real time, the improvement of quarterback Arch Manning. Sure, it would have been cool if he was instantly epic against defending national champion Ohio State. But that was a very tall ask.

For the first half of the season, one of the national college football story lines was, "What's wrong with Arch Manning?" The answer was he was young. He hadn't started many football games in two years and his high school competition was weak.

But after the loss to Florida, Manning turned a corner. He was solid in UT's win over the Oklahoma Sooners in the Red River Shootout. He didn't play great in a wide OT win at Kentucky. Then he threw for 346 yards in another OT win, this time at Mississippi State.

Q&A

What improvements does Arch Manning need to make to be the No. 1 pick?

Arch Manning needs to enhance his consistency and performance under pressure to solidify his status as a top draft pick.

How did Arch Manning perform in the 2025 season?

Arch Manning had a mixed performance, starting slow but showing notable improvement, particularly in key games against Oklahoma and Mississippi State.

What challenges did Arch Manning face early in the season?

Manning faced challenges due to his youth, limited starting experience, and the relatively weak competition he faced in high school.

What was a significant turning point for Arch Manning in the season?

A significant turning point for Manning was his performance following the loss to Florida, where he demonstrated marked improvement in subsequent games.