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Aug 30, 2025 5:35 PM EDT
The Texas Longhorns opened their season against Ohio State on Saturday with immense anticipation surrounding starting quarterback Arch Manning. Entering his second official year at Texas, and first as the full-time starting quarterback, the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning was expected to validate the hype that followed flashes of promise during his 10 appearances last season.
Saturday’s matchup in Columbus was billed as the perfect stage for him to establish himself as the face of the No. 1 ranked team in the country. Instead, Manning struggled mightily as Texas fell 14-7 to the defending champion Buckeyes in a game defined by costly errors.
Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16).
Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16). — Source: © Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
NBA Star Draymond Green Calls Out Arch Manning
Manning finished 17-of-30 for 170 yards with one touchdown and one interception, adding 38 yards on the ground. His first half was particularly poor, producing fewer than 30 passing yards. The decisive sequence came late in the fourth quarter when he failed to connect with Ryan Wingo on third down with 1:38 left, effectively ending Texas’ hopes.
The play was heavily scrutinized by many on social media, including NBA star Draymond Green, who joined the chorus of critics with a five-word post on Threads.
“Gotta make that play Arch,” Green wrote about the play.
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While Green was critical of Manning on this play, he defended him in a follow up post that responded to fan calling the Sophomore a fraud.
“A fraud in game 1 as a full time starter on the road at Ohio State?” Green asked rhetorically. “Wow.”
As if Manning’s nightmare performance was not enough, he was outplayed by his rival, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin. His composure stood in stark contrast to Manning’s struggles, as he led the Buckeyes to yet another statement victory to start their title defense. Sayin completed 13-of-20 for 126 yards and a 40-yard touchdown strike to Carnell Tate. The 20-year-old also became the first QB in 41 years to beat the AP No. 1 ranked team in his first career start, according to the Columbus Dispatch.
With the win, the defending champion extended a recent trend—this marked the fourth straight time the reigning national champion beat the AP preseason No. 1 in an opener.
Looking Ahead for Arch Manning and the Longhorns After Ohio State Loss
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian also faced scrutiny for questionable play-calling, including a failed “tush push” attempt near the goal line that stalled a scoring drive. While Manning shouldered much of the blame, his supporting cast and coaching decisions also came under fire.
Still, the season is just beginning. Manning, like his uncle Peyton at Tennessee, will have time to learn from an early setback. Texas remains stocked with talent and will count on its quarterback to regroup against less daunting opponents in the coming weeks. The Longhorns will look to regroup next week against the San José State Spartans at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.
The hype isn’t gone, but Manning now has to earn it back on the field.
About the Author
Ayomide Adeduyite
Trending News Writer, Athlon Sports
Ayomide Adeduyite is a contributing writer for the Athlon Sports trending and breaking news team.