After weeks of anticipation, the Texas Longhorns opened their 2025 campaign against Ohio State on Saturday afternoon. In a matchup between two of the best teams in the nation, offense was hard to come by. For Arch Manning and the Longhorns, it was an afternoon full of frustration as they opened the season with a 14-7 loss.
Against a talented Buckeyes defense, Manning completed 17 of his 30 passes for 170 yards. The New Orleans native also threw one interception and failed to get the Texas offense going until late in the fourth quarter. He also recorded 38 rushing yards on ten carries.
While Manning and the offense struggled, the Longhorns’ defense kept Ohio State in check. They only allowed 203 total yards, including 126 through the air. However, that was not enough, as Ohio State got key stops in the red zone and never allowed Manning to get settled in.
Although it is an afternoon that Manning will want to quickly wipe from his memory, Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian provided words of encouragement for his star postgame when.
When speaking with the media, Sarkisian said, “The expectations were out of control on the outside. But I’d say let’s finish the book before we judge it. This is one chapter, and we got a long season to play.”
For Manning, the key will be having a short memory. The Ohio State defense was tough, but the Longhorns were unable to execute in key moments. That proved to be their downfall as the Buckeyes took advantage of every mistake. Next week, Manning will have the chance to get back on track against a much easier opponent in San Jose State at home.
The expectations are still high on Austin, but Saturday provided a reminder that there is still some work to be done as the Longhorns chase a national title.
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This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: What the heck happened to Arch Manning in loss to Ohio State?
Reporting by Jamie Gatlin, Longhorns Wire / Longhorns Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
