Eli Manning evaluates Arch Manning's response to 'slow beginning' at Texas: 'We've all been there'

Following an up-and-down start to his time as Texas’ starting quarterback, Arch Manning put together back-to-back solid games before the bye. As he gets ready to take on Georgia in Week 12, his uncle weighed in on his progress.

Eli Manning praised Arch’s development since the start of the year and his ability to stay the course. The former top recruit entered the 2025 season with high expectations as he took over Steve Sarkisian’s offense, but things got off to a rocky start against Ohio State. From there, Manning continued to show flashes and started to put it all together in the last two games against Mississippi State and Vanderbilt.

To Eli Manning, it’s more than just Arch playing well. The whole Texas offense seems to be improving, and he said that starts with the quarterback getting more comfortable.

“It just seems like he has a better feel of this offense,” Eli Manning told Kevin Negandhi Thursday on SportsCenter. “I feel like the offense is playing better. They have a lot of new guys – new offensive linemen, new running backs, receivers. So everybody’s playing a little bit better and it starts with him. Just kind of making the throws that are open. I think just hanging in there, knowing when he’s got a good play. ‘I can hang on this, I can make this throw down the field. Knowing when the defense has a better play call than we do right now. Where are my checkdowns? Can I get completions? Can I run and get first downs?’

“So just making better decisions. He’s playing great. I know it’s always a tough battle to go into Athens. It’s always going to be a good defense and a great team. But I’m excited for him and I’m proud of how he handled that slow beginning. We’ve all been there.”

Through nine games, Arch Manning has completed 62.7% of his passes for 2,123 yards and 18 touchdowns, to six interceptions. He also has 203 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground. Over the last two games, though, he completed 68.4% of his passes for 674 yards and six touchdowns, to just one interception.

That progress is why Eli Manning is happy with where things stand. Most notably, though, Texas is in position to make some noise over the final weeks.

“He was going into his third start in his college career,” Manning said of Arch’s season debut at Ohio State. “It’s not always so easy. He hung in there, he stayed confident, he worked hard on his fundamentals, meeting with the coaches to figure out how to play better. He’s done those things and got them in a good position to make a run at the SEC Championship.”