Texas walked into Fayetteville and did exactly what a ranked SEC team is supposed to do. No. 16Texas (8–3, 5–2 SEC) handled Arkansas (2–9, 0–7 SEC) with a 52–37 win, and Arch Manning turned in one of his more complete outings of the year.
Here’s the quarterback report card:
Stat line
Manning finished 18-of-30 for 389 yards, four passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown, and one receiving touchdown.
What I liked
Quick game
Manning came out hot, hitting six straight completions to kick things off — a rhythm drive ending with him on the receiving end of a touchdown. Texas used tempo and spacing early, and Arch was sharp out of the gate.
Progression
This was quietly one of the biggest improvements. Manning looked far more patient working through reads. Credit the offensive line — Arkansas usually finds a way to get home, but Texas kept Manning clean with zero sacks allowed. With that protection, he reset, re-aligned, and kept his eyes disciplined. That’s real growth.
Athleticism
The touchdown catch showed it. Manning climbed the ladder and secured it like a natural ball-tracker. Small moment, but it speaks to his overall athletic comfort.
Accuracy
Mechanically, he’s trending upward. His lower body looked more in sync — cleaner base, hips rotating through the target, ball popping out with better consistency. It’s incremental, but it’s there.
Pocket presence
This was one of the most encouraging traits. When the pocket squeezed, Manning slid, reset, and kept plays alive without drifting into trouble. Zero sacks isn’t an accident — this was a point of emphasis, and he put it on tape.
Sharing the wealth
This was my favorite piece of the night. Manning wasn’t shy. He ripped throws to all levels and distributed the ball the way a QB1 should. It’s the version of Arch folks expected to see sooner, and it finally showed up.
Game grade: B+
Final thoughts
Look — Arkansas has had a nightmare season, but an SEC win is an SEC win. Texas handled business, and Manning stacked some meaningful progress. He isn’t a finished product yet, but he’s heading in the right direction at exactly the right time.
Now comes the real test. On Friday, November 28th, Texas hosts No. 3 Texas A&M (11–0, 7–0 SEC) in what might be the game that determines the Longhorns’ playoff hopes. If Manning brings this version of himself, things get interesting in a hurry.