Contrary to what many NFL and college football fans believed, Arch Manning is not ready for the professional league. His recent performance against UTEP proved that he is still far from reaching that goal. Fans even booed him off the field after the game.
The hype around Manning before the start of the 2025 college football season was massive. No other player received as much attention, as many considered him a rising star with a bright future. That hype now seems premature, and reality is starting to show.
A situation that shocks Manning’s followers
According to Athlonsports, many considered Arch Manning a strong Heisman Trophy candidate. Analysts even projected him as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, in his first three full starts with the Longhorns, he failed to live up to expectations.
Arch Manning runs around and hucks a pick pic.twitter.com/i56RmMmgir
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) September 13, 2025
Right now, Manning shows fundamental and mechanical problems on the field, which both fans and experts notice. His inaccurate throws and poor ball placement prove that he is not prepared for the NFL environment.
Even though he threw five touchdowns in Texas’s 38-7 win over San José State, his accuracy issues persisted. Opponents see these weaknesses and will continue to exploit them.
The same problems showed up against UTEP. Texas won 27-10, but Manning threw only three touchdowns. The rest of the game, he struggled with timing and accuracy. He completed just 11 of 25 passes and broke a golden quarterback rule: never throw late over the middle.
This left the crowd stunned, and many now wonder if a possible shoulder injury explains his declining performance, since his throws lack the sharpness he displayed in the 2024-25 season. Injury or not, scouts and experts see the same truth: Manning lacks the preparation to succeed as an NFL quarterback—at least in the near future.
