Arch Manning has (seemingly) finally found his footing. With a rivalry win over Oklahoma, two overtime victories over Kentucky and Mississippi State, and an incredible performance to topple Vanderbilt, the Texas Longhorns and their quarterback are trending in the right direction.
Over the last two games, Manning averaged a 68.4 completion rate for 337.0 yards, three touchdowns, and 0.5 interceptions per game. Simply put, he looks like the quarterback everyone was expecting to see all year long.
Former ESPN analyst David Pollack, who played linebacker for the Georgia Bulldogs in the early 2000s, was breaking down why Manning's game has seen such rapid improvement, and his thoughts were... interesting.
David Pollack's take on Arch Manning is brazen at best
"I think the concussion absolutely helped Arch Manning," Pollack said on his podcast "See Ball Get Ball."
I'm sorry, but WHAT? An injury to the brain is the reason that Manning has seen his game grow exponentially? Not Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian adjusting the game to best set Manning up for success, or the young quarterback becoming more comfortable at the collegiate level?
Pollack went on to say that in the game versus Vanderbilt, it was the first time he had seen Manning truly not want to get hit. Yet, Manning played extremely well against Mississippi State just a week prior to suffering the concussion.
"When he scrambled to the right and threw that touchdown pass, no part of him thought about running," Pollack continued. "He thought about playing QB."
While it's undeniably true that Manning ran the ball less against the Commodores, it's also blatantly obvious that he didn't need to. He was able to get off quick passes for significant yards due to his receiver's success, and the running back room finally found its footing, earning nearly 100 yards and one touchdown in the game.
Arch Manning’s concussion changed the way he’s playing. For the better. pic.twitter.com/iFKqByvooC
— David Pollack (@davidpollack47) November 6, 2025
So sure, you can frame Manning's improvement as a talented quarterback getting his head knocked back on straight. Or you can recognize it as an elite quarterback finally growing comfortable at the collegiate level and with the program he's a part of.
Manning and the Longhorns are enjoying a bye this Saturday, but next weekend, No. 11 Texas will face the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs in a crucial conference matchup.
On Saturday, Nov. 15, the Horns and the Dawgs are scheduled to kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT, and the game will be aired on ABC.