Arch Manning sidelined by concussion as Texas holds its breath

The night Arch Manning looked ready to cement himself as the new face of the Longhorns ended with a hit that left everyone holding their breath. Texas pulled off an epic overtime comeback against Mississippi State (45-38), but the win came at a steep price. Their star quarterback suffered a concussion and will be out indefinitely.

The impact happened on the first play of overtime, when Arch Manning took off running after failing to find an open receiver. On a 13-yard scramble, two Bulldogs defenders brought him down, and his helmet bounced hard off the turf. Manning tried to get up but sat back down, visibly dazed, as medical staff rushed to his side. The scene, described in detail by Marca, made it clear this wasn’t a minor injury.

Led the comeback

Before the hit, Arch Manning had delivered his best college performance yet: 346 passing yards, three touchdowns through the air, and one on the ground. In the fourth quarter alone, he threw for 166 yards and two scores, leading a comeback that felt straight out of a movie. His backup, Matthew Caldwell, stepped in and sealed the win with a touchdown pass. Still, all eyes remained on Manning’s condition.

Arch Manning suffered an injury on this play

I’ll provide more context when we have it, but the most likely diagnosis is a concussion. https://t.co/iaAFxMJZQS

— Jesse Morse, M.D. (@DrJesseMorse) October 26, 2025

Head coach Steve Sarkisian confirmed that Arch Manning will enter the NCAA’s concussion protocol. Dr. James Robson, a Texas-based neurologist not involved in Manning’s care, explained that recovery timelines can vary. “Even mild concussions can have lingering effects. The key is not rushing the return,” Robson said about Manning’s situation.

Next stop for Texas

With a 7-1 record for the first time since 1941, Texas now prepares to host tenth-ranked Vanderbilt. The absence of Arch Manning could seriously impact the Longhorns’ hopes of reaching the College Football Playoff. Sarkisian, however, remains composed: “Arch is our leader, but this team is built to handle adversity.”

For Arch Manning, the coming weeks will be about patience and recovery. His rise in Texas has been electric, but now he faces a different kind of challenge—getting healthy again. While the Longhorns chase their biggest goals in decades, their young star must first win a battle off the field