Arch Manning’s week 2 report card reveals growth and development in Texas' offense

Arch Manning’s second career start showed progress in poise, efficiency, and command of the offense, but it wasn’t a flawless outing. Against a San Jose State team that didn’t match Ohio State’s talent level, Manning had the opportunity to clean up mistakes, sharpen mechanics, and show comfort in Steve Sarkisian’s system.

Here is his quarterback report card for week 2:

Stat Line

19/30, 295, 4 TD, 1 INT

4 Carries, 23 yards, 1 TD, 5.8 ypc

The Good

Mobility: Manning was very decisive about whether he would scramble or stay in the pocket most of the time. He wasn't afraid to use his legs this weekend.

Pocket Presence: He kept his eyes downfield despite some early miscues, showing how he's settling into the speed of the college game. Manning only took one sack - a credit to his offensive line for giving him time.

Leadership: I applaud this young man for handling himself on and off the field. It didn't matter how the game was unfolding, he never got too high or too low. He remains even keel emotionally. When his team would score, he would celebrate with his teammates and coaches, and he's a student of the game who trusts his guys.

The Bad

Mechanics: Manning is still raw in this category. There were some throws he should've been able to complete with his eyes closed, that he missed. More work with his quarterback coach will help clean that up. More specifically, his back foot - he's trying to throw with all his arm. Today, he did this wide leg swing that threw him off balance multiple times. It's straightforward again - drag the big toe to flip the hips.

Missed chances downfield: Texas scored, but there were a few missed opportunities to put the game away early. It seemed that Manning wasn't comfortable throwing deep unless he saw a receiver running wide open with no defenders.

The Ugly

Week 1 was rough, but this time around, it was a little better and I take nothing away from San Jose State. Their defense played hard and made some key stops—but those presented situations of adversity for Manning, who threw one interception going into halftime.

Final Remarks

Manning took small steps forward in week 2 and he looked more confident, slightly more efficient, and more in control of the offense. Still, the real test comes against ranked competition when windows are tighter, and every decision carries weight. He’s going through the development process as he should — precisely what I hoped to see.

Grade: C

Trajectory: Slight trend up, primarily due to chemistry with WR Parker Livingstone, who had two scores, and TE Jack Endries, who also had two scores.