We’ve heard about the talent forever.
We’ve heard about the Manning name, the NFL potential and the Heisman hype.
But Saturday night against No. 1 Ohio State, it’s time for Arch Manning to show he can do it against the best teams in college football.
Because that was the biggest thing missing last season.
Manning struggled badly in Texas’ 14-7 loss at Ohio State, throwing for only 170 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Through the first three quarters, he had just 38 passing yards.
And Ohio State wasn’t the only elite defense that gave him problems.
Against Oklahoma, Manning threw for only 166 yards and one touchdown. Against Georgia, he completed 27-of-43 passes for 251 yards and one touchdown. Texas went 1-2 against Ohio State, Oklahoma and Georgia.
That’s the next step.
Can Arch Manning be the reason Texas wins these type of games this year?
This year, he has much more around him.
Auburn transfer Cam Coleman gives Manning a legitimate superstar receiver opposite Ryan Wingo. Coleman caught two touchdowns in his Texas debut, while Wingo went for 121 yards and a score.
Manning also has another full year in Steve Sarkisian’s system, and Week 1 certainly looked promising.
He threw for 305 yards and four touchdowns in a 59-7 destruction of Texas State.
But Saturday is different.
Ohio State has beaten Texas twice in a row, and Manning himself admitted last year’s film is difficult for him to watch. Now he gets another shot at the Buckeyes, except this time it’s under the lights in Austin with the No. 1 team in America coming to town.
These are the games that define quarterbacks at Texas.
Manning doesn’t need to throw for 400 yards or five touchdowns.
He needs to win.
If Arch Manning can finally deliver against an elite opponent Saturday night, we might look back at this as the moment he went from being one of college football’s most hyped quarterbacks to one of its best.
