Steve Sarkisian sends final message to Arch Manning before Ohio State opener: 'Let it rip'

The college football world will have its eyes focused on the Week 1 blockbuster matchup between Texas and Ohio State. In turn, the spotlight will be all over Longhorns QB Arch Manning before his first full season as the team’s starting quarterback.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian sent one final message to Manning before the season opener. Sarkisian kept it short and sweet for his QB1.

“Let it rip,” Sarkisian said on the field inside Ohio Stadium.

Sarkisian joined ESPN’s College GameDay to discuss the Manning and the upcoming matchup. He’s already made a few observations about his new starting quarterback on the morning of Week 1’s blockbuster matchup.

“He’s being Arch,” Sarkisian said. “And I think that’s the beauty of it. I think that’s what today is going to require from him, that he’s himself, that he doesn’t try to be anything that he’s not because who he is is good enough.”

Manning spent the first two years of his college football career sitting behind former Texas QB Quinn Ewers. However, that isn’t to say that Manning didn’t have a few opportunities to impress fans to this point in his college career.

During the few times Manning has been on the field for Texas, he hasn’t disappointed. When Ewers sustained an injury early in the 2024 season that allowed fans to get a taste of what Manning offers on the field. He came in during the second quarter against UTSA, and led the Longhorns to a 56-7 win over the Roadrunners.

Manning followed that up with consecutive starts against Louisiana Monroe and Mississippi State, where Texas outscored its opponents 86-16. He threw for 583 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions during those games. Manning rushed for an additional touchdown against the Bulldogs as well.

He went on to finish his redshirt freshman season with 939 total yards to go with nine touchdowns and two interceptions. Manning also finished the season with an 87.5 QBR, which would have ranked among the nation’s leaders last year but did not qualify.

Now, Texas is his team and he’ll take the field on Saturday at Noon ET to prove himself to any doubters, and showcase his skills to a national audience against his toughest opponent yet — the Ohio State Buckeyes in a rematch of last year’s College Football Playoff semifinal. Texas enters the matchup as a 1.5-point underdog to Ohio State at home.