Arch Manning, Texas offense bounce back in a big way against Sam Houston

Despite securing the win last Saturday against UTEP, the Longhorn offense had reached a new low in terms of efficiency and outside confidence levels.

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Quarterback Arch Manning had a stretch of 0-10 passing attempts, the run game was average and Texas scored just 28 against a middle-of-the-road G6 opponent. Confidence outside of the building couldn’t be shakier, and fans were beginning to question the validity of head coach Steve Sarkisian as a playcaller and Manning’s potential to carry the team into the College Football Playoff.

“Yeah, I felt good. I thought the team played really well. Got the ball in my guys hands and let them go to work,” Manning said.

While those types of conversations must be reserved for later in the season, Manning came out this Saturday firing. The Longhorns were nearly perfect in the first half against Sam Houston, scoring 31 points through five drives en route to a staggering 55-0 win. Texas outgained the Bearkats 361-50 in just the first half alone, with the Longhorns only failing to score a touchdown on one of its drives during that span.

“It felt good to get back in the endzone,” Manning said. “Probably a little much there. My mom was pretty mad about that. A little mature, but I think it was some built up frustration those past few weeks.”

Manning was on a different level compared to his past few performances. Outside of a few shaky throws early in the game, the quarterback was commanding the offense with both his legs and his arm. At the half, he was 14/17 with 227 yards and three touchdowns between the ground and the air.

No touchdown popped more to the fans experiencing the first night game of 2025 than the second of the game, where Manning shrugged off Sam Houston’s Antavious Fish before staring the Bearkat down. A scuffle began, and emerging out of the back was a fired-up No. 16, popping out his chest and flexing to his celebrating teammates. His swagger was, dare we say it, back?

Manning would finish the game with 309 yards and five total touchdowns, completing 86% of his passes. It was an elite game from the third-year quarterback, who exited the contest with eight minutes left in the third quarter.

“I always feel like he’s at his best when that emotion comes out. I think there was a lot built up in there from last week that he needed to get out,” Sarkisian said about Manning. “I think the guys feed off of that for him, and it’s one of his strengths, and he’s a very cerebral guy in his approach and in his preparation, but at his core, I think when he plays a little looser, a little bit more free, that’s the best version of Arch. That’s when he’s really at his best.”

Texas also found new success in the run game, prioritizing inside run concepts that gave tight ends easy blocking paths and large holes for the runners to chip away at the Bearkat defense. Despite injuries to Quintrevion Wisner and CJ Baxter, Texas averaged 6.4 yards per rush with 264 yards on the ground. The bulk of the carries went to Christian Clark, who ran for 62 yards and a touchdown on 4.8 yards per carry. Jerrick Gibson had a very similar stat line, scoring a touchdown on 4.8 yards per carry and 53 yards. Freshman James Simon had just nine rushes, but ran for 50 yards. Texas had nine runs that went for double-digit yards.

This felt like the first complete game for Texas all season. The defense was, as usual, dominant, but Texas hasn’t seen this many playmakers contribute explosive plays all year. Ryan Wingo scored two touchdowns on four catches for 93 yards, none more satisfying than a 53-yard heave from Manning for the score right in front of the student section. DeAndre Moore caught five for 79 yards in his return to the field, Parker Livingstone caught three passes, Ryan Niblett registered 45 yards on two touches and Jordan Washington converted his first career touchdown.

Texas needed a bounce-back game like this, given what lies ahead on the schedule. The Longhorns will have some confidence heading into the bye week, but what lies after it won’t be a team as bad as Sam Houston. Texas will play a struggling Florida team, but it will be in the always-hostile The Swamp in Gainesville. The very next week, Texas will face a confident Oklahoma team in the Red River Rivalry, one that took down Auburn in its first SEC game earlier today.

But the Longhorns won’t be looking that far ahead tonight. It was a great environment, and an even better win for the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K. Royal Memorial Stadium. Night games never disappoint, and finally, the offense didn’t either.