Distaste for Arch Manning explodes as Longhorns fall to Gators

Longhorn fans are rapidly growing tired of Texas starting quarterback Arch Manning after a less-than-ideal performance against the Florida Gators.
Texas quarterback Arch Manning (16) watches warm-ups before an NCAA football game against Florida in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, October 4, 2025
Texas quarterback Arch Manning (16) watches warm-ups before an NCAA football game against Florida in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, October 4, 2025 | Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

What a nightmare. The preseason No. 1 Longhorns are now 3-2 with a loss to the unranked Florida Gators fresh on their minds.

Texas starting quarterback Arch Manning, who was a favorite to be a Heisman finalist by the end of the year, has fallen shockingly short of expectations, and his game against Florida was a highlight reel of his disappointments.

With a 55.17 percent completion rate and an equal number of interceptions as touchdowns, Manning floundered against the Gators. Immediately, despite his incredible game against Sam Houston State just one game earlier, Texas fans started calling for Manning to ride the bench.

With two interceptions (which easily could have turned into three) and just two passing touchdowns on the day, Manning had a far-from-ideal performance against Florida, which was supposed to be one of Texas's easier conference opponents this season.

Manning may have rushed 37 yards (not all that great, but still led the team in yards on the ground), but he was also sacked six times for a loss of seven yards, many of those tackles for loss coming on critical offensive drives for the Horns.

Even non-Texas fans were calling out just how disappointing Manning had become, even though he earned 263 yards through the air against the Gators. Simply put, his in-game performances were quickly outweighing his last name.

Just three years ago, Manning was the No. 1 quarterback in the class of 2023 (with Florida starting quarterback DJ Lagway being the No. 1 QB in the class of 2024). Now, people are questioning if Manning should even have the starting job in Austin.

Through the Longhorns' first five games of the season, Manning had earned just 888 passing yards (61.3 completion percentage) for 11 touchdowns and five interceptions, while also being sacked five times.

The eight-point loss to Florida was the worst way Texas could have started its 2025 conference schedule, especially as the Horns face No. 5 Oklahoma in just seven days and will see the No. 16 Vanderbilt Commodores, No. 12 Georgia Bulldogs, and No. 6 Texas A&M Aggies later this season.

Texas and Oklahoma are scheduled to kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Oct. 11, and the game will be broadcast on ABC.