Arch Manning grades: Texas QB flips script with fourth-quarter comeback vs. Ohio State
Arch Manning grades: Texas QB flips script with fourth-quarter comeback vs. Ohio State originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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For three quarters, Texas quarterback Arch Manning lived out a nightmarish sequel against No. 1 Ohio State at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
In the fourth quarter, however, Manning might have finally become a Longhorns’ legend. Manning led No. 4 Texas to three fourth-quarter touchdown drives in a 24-23 victory that gave the quarterback a signature September victory that will have massive implications later in the College Football Playoff race.
Manning – who had 60 passing yards at halftime – finished 23 of 37 for 196 yards, a TD and an interception. In the process, he turned a massive flop into an unforgettable performance.
“I’m so proud of our guys in all three phases,” Manning said on the ABC telecast afterward. “It wasn’t very pretty but we found a way to win. That’s a good game, too.”
Manning had a wide smile, too. So how do you grade this start? A look at Manning’s grades.
Arch Manning’s first quarter: F
You could not have scripted a worse start for Texas – but how much of that is on Manning?
Manning threw a swing pass to Hollywood Smothers on the first play from scrimmage, but Ohio State cornerback Jay Timmons stripped the ball and recovered the fumble. The Buckeyes converted that into a 26-yard field goal by Connor Hawkins.
Manning’s next pass – a deep over route to Cam Coleman – turned into disaster. Manning slightly overthrew Coleman, and the ball bounced in the air as the receiver hit the ground. Jaylen McClain came up with a fluky interception – which the Buckeyes turned into a 8-yard TD reception by Ja’Kobi Jackson.
Texas has had 5 plays on offense.
2 of those plays have resulted in turnovers.pic.twitter.com/yrrR217Zsx
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) September 13, 2026
Manning took a sack on third-and-4 on the next drive on a play where he didn’t get rid of the ball on time. The Longhorns had five yards in the first quarter and trailed 10-0. ABC analyst Kirk Herbstreit noted that four pass attempts resulted in a fumble, interception, incompletion and sack.
Manning was 1 of 3 for -4 yards at that point.
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Arch Manning’s second quarter: D
The Longhorns stopped a fourth-and-1 – and Manning led a 16-play, 69-yard scoring drive on the next possession that led to a 37-yard field goal by Gianni Spetic.
It was a missed opportunity, however. Ryan Wingo dropped a pass in the end zone. Manning took a sack from Kenyatta Jackson, and he sailed a third-and-15 pass out of the end zone.
Arch Manning two-minute drill: F
The Longhorns had a chance cut into a 13-3 lead with 1:41 left in the first half. Manning pushed the ball into Ohio State territory with passes to Wingo and Coleman, and Texas had a fourth-and-1 after a 9-yard pass to Raleek Brown.
Texas ran a reverse pitch to Cam Coleman, who was tackled for a 10-yard loss on Ryan Mathews Jr. Jeremiah Smith caught a 19-yard TD pass with 10 seconds left in the half for a 20-3 lead.
Was that fourth-down play call on Manning? No, but it ended in boos at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium at the half.
Half time stats: 7 of 14, 60 yards
Arch Manning’s third quarter: C
Texas managed just one first down on its first two drives of the second half on a 14-yard pass to Smothers.
Manning finally broke through on the next drive with Texas trailing 23-3. He hit a fourth-and-9 pass to tight end Emaree Wilson. He followed up with a 22-yard pass to Winston – the first completion of the game on a pass of more than 15 yards in the air.
Manning also had two scrambles for 18 yards that helped set up a touchdown pass to start the fourth quarter. And what a fourth quarter it was.
Arch Manning’s fourth quarter: A+
Manning opened the fourth quarter with a 3-yard TD pass to Wingo that cut the lead to 23-10 with 14:19 remaining in the game. That capped a 15-play, 91-yard drive.
On the next drive, Manning converted a fourth-and-6 on a cross-body pass to Emmett Mosley V, and that eventually set up a 1-yard TD run by Hollywood Smothers to cut the lead to 23-17. That capped a 13-play scoring drive.
Hawkins missed a 45-yard field goal with 4:16 remaining, and Manning went to work on a game-defining final drive. He hit Mosley on a 17-yard pass with a read in the flat. After short completions to Mosley and Winston, he found Mosley on a slant for a 19-yard gain. That set up a 1-yard TD run by Smothers with 25 seconds left. That was 12 plays and 73 yards.
Manning was 4 of 5 for 48 yards on the final drive and 8 of 11 for 79 yards in the fourth quarter.
Arch Manning’s grade vs. Ohio State: A
We’re grading on the curve. The Longhorns were 2 of 3 on fourth down, and those conversions kept Ohio State’s defense on the field. Manning led those three scoring drives – and it’s going to go down as one of the most memorable fourth quarters in Texas history.
This might vault Texas to No. 1 in the AP Poll, and Manning showed tremendous growth when the game was on the line. It’s one of those moments that will increase the hype around the future first-round pick – and it’s a major sign of progress given how last year’s start went in a 14-7 loss to the Buckeyes.
“I had nightmares about that game last year,” Manning said. “It felt good to get a win tonight. Have a good night in Austin.”