Arch Manning Delivers Statement Win for Texas Over Michigan in Ann Arbor
Arch Manning walked into the Big House and walked out with a signature win. The Texas Longhorns beat Michigan 28-17 on Saturday afternoon, with Manning throwing for 289 yards and three touchdowns in his best college performance to date. Texas is now 2-0 and looks every bit the playoff contender its preseason ranking suggested.
Manning was under enormous pressure entering this game. His decision to sit behind Quinn Ewers for two seasons was viewed skeptically by some Texas fans, and his first career start against Ohio State to open the season was a shaky 14 of 26 for 187 yards with a pick. Saturday was the response.
The Texas passing attack looked completely different. Manning targeted Ryan Wingo eight times, connecting on six for 108 yards and a touchdown. Freshman receiver Ojani Torres broke through with two touchdown catches. And veteran DeAndre Moore Jr. was a security blanket on third downs.
Michigan’s defense entered the game as one of the top units in the country. Head coach Sherrone Moore had rebuilt around defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, and the Wolverines had allowed only 10 points in their opener. Texas made them look ordinary.
Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian called an aggressive game. Texas ran quick game on early downs, mixed in a healthy dose of RPO with running back Tre Wisner, and dared Michigan to blitz. When they did, Manning hit them for big plays.
The Michigan offense could not respond. Bryce Underwood, the top recruit in the 2025 class, threw for 202 yards but was sacked five times and threw an interception in the red zone. He is going to be a star, but Saturday was a reminder that even the most talented freshman quarterbacks take time.
Texas has now beaten a top-15 team on the road with a first-year starter at quarterback. That kind of win builds real belief inside a program, and Sarkisian said after the game that he thought the win could be a turning point in the season.
The Longhorns get a two-week break from ranked opponents before heading to Alabama in mid-September. Manning versus DeBoer, in Tuscaloosa, in what will be a top-10 matchup, is going to be one of the biggest games of the college football season.
Manning is now firmly in the Heisman conversation. He has the pedigree, the moment, and now the film to support the campaign. If he throws for 300 yards in Tuscaloosa, his campaign becomes the loudest in the sport.
Texas is back where it belongs. Michigan is still a good football team. The gap between the top two conferences in college football just got a little bit smaller.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
