Texas quarterback Arch Manning absolutely went off on Saturday, leading his team back from a brutal 23-3 deficit against No. 1 Ohio State after three quarters to snatch a 24-23 victory with only 25 seconds left on the clock. This wasn’t just a win, it was a statement, especially after his tough outing against the Buckeyes last season.
The Ghost of 2025 Erased
You know the feeling when a team just has your number? That’s exactly how Arch Manning felt about Ohio State coming into this game. He really struggled against them to open the 2025 college football season, finishing with just 170 yards through the air, one touchdown, and one interception in a crushing 14-7 loss. That Buckeye defense completely flustered him, making him feel super uncomfortable in the pocket all game long. It was the kind of game you want to forget fast. Manning himself told ESPN’s Dave Wilson this week, “Not a lot of good memories a year ago,” and you could practically feel the frustration still lingering from that loss. He wanted payback, badly.
Fourth Quarter Firestorm
And boy, did he deliver! Down 23-3 after three quarters, with the game looking completely out of reach, Manning didn’t just turn it on; he went full supernova in the fourth quarter. He was electric, orchestrating three unbelievable touchdown drives, including the game-winner that put Texas up 24-23 with a mere 25 seconds left. That final, winning drive was pure clutch: Manning completed 4-of-5 passes for 48 yards, just surgical when it mattered most. For the entire fourth quarter, he racked up 91 passing yards and punched in a touchdown. He was in a rhythm, hitting big throws, especially awesome on some huge fourth downs to extend drives that absolutely should have died. He finished the game with 196 yards through the air, one touchdown, and one interception, but those fourth quarter numbers tell the real story.
A New Level of Confidence
Now, the Longhorns are sitting pretty at 2-0 after taking down the No. 1 team in the country. That’s massive. This kind of win, especially a comeback from 20 points down, is going to inject a ton of confidence into the squad as they prepare to dive into their tough SEC schedule. And Manning? He’s got to feel like a completely different quarterback after leading that incredible comeback. The scene in Austin is definitely going to be wild for the rest of the night, and you can bet the entire team, and especially Manning, will be riding this high into their next matchup. What a game.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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