Arch Manning lands on ESPN’s blacklist

Arch Manning entered the 2025 season carrying the weight of a legendary last name, the hype of a Heisman frontrunner, and the expectation of being the top pick in the next draft. But halfway through the campaign, the Texas Longhorns quarterback is facing a much harsher reality. Inconsistent performances, rising doubts, and now, a stinging designation. According to ESPN analyst Bill Connelly, Manning and the Texas offense have landed in the “untrustworthy” category for Week 9—a verdict that reflects growing disappointment in his recent play.

The near-miss against Kentucky, a 16-13 win in Week 8, dropped Texas to No. 22 in the AP rankings. Just a week earlier, the Longhorns had convincingly beaten then-No. 6 Oklahoma, but the offense stalled against a sub-.500 Kentucky squad. Arch Manning completed just 12 of 27 passes for 132 yards, with no touchdowns and three sacks. So far, he’s totaled 1,449 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, and five interceptions in seven games. Numbers that fall short of preseason expectations.

Troubling stats

Athlon Sports points out that Texas’ offensive metrics are alarming: 74th in yards per play, 88th in points per drive, 101st in success rate, and 116th in percentage of plays with zero or negative yardage. Connelly notes that not all the blame falls on Arch Manning, but the quarterback hasn’t gotten much help either. In Lexington, the running backs averaged just 3.3 yards per carry, and the offensive line left Manning exposed.

Beyond the numbers, what’s most concerning is the lack of growth. Arch Manning’s issues seem structural—footwork, timing in the pocket, and accuracy. And with matchups against Vanderbilt (No. 10), Georgia (No. 5), and Texas A&M (No. 3) still ahead, the margin for error is shrinking fast.

Texas sits at 5-2, but the road to the playoffs looks steep. Just a year after reaching the semifinals, the team seems to have lost its rhythm. And while Arch Manning still has time to flip the narrative, he’ll need to do it quickly. Because in college football, patience is as rare as clean pockets on a rough night.