The Southeastern Conference handed out its weekly honors Monday, and Texas redshirt sophomore quarterback Arch Manning found himself at the top of the offensive list. Manning’s recognition came after he guided the No. 20 Longhorns to a 34-31 victory over No. 9 Vanderbilt Saturday afternoon at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.
The conference named Manning offensive player of the week after he threw for 328 yards and three touchdowns while completing 76% of his passes without a turnover.
Manning’s performance marked a turning point for Texas at a moment when the Longhorns needed him most. Coming off a concussion sustained during the previous week’s overtime win against Mississippi State, Manning spent most of the week in protocol and didn’t practice until Wednesday.
He was listed as questionable on the injury report Wednesday and Thursday before being cleared Friday night. The uncertainty surrounding his availability made Saturday’s outing all the more noteworthy.
According to ESPN, Manning became the first player in Texas history with 300 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and a completion percentage over 75% against a top-10 opponent.
The grandson of Archie Manning and nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning connected on 25 of 33 attempts, finding a rhythm early when he hit Ryan Wingo for a 75-yard touchdown on the game’s opening play.
This marked Manning’s second straight game with more than 300 passing yards and three touchdowns, making him the first Texas quarterback to accomplish that feat since Sam Ehlinger in 2018.
🏈 #SECFB Players of the Week: Nov. 3
OFFENSIVE
Arch Manning, @TexasFootballDEFENSIVE
Owen Heinecke, @OU_FootballSPECIAL TEAMS
Tate Sandell, @OU_FootballOFFENSIVE LINE
Jalen Farmer, @UKFootball
Jayden Williams, @OleMissFBDEFENSIVE LINE
Colin Simmons, @TexasFootball… pic.twitter.com/DC5hA4qZrn— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) November 3, 2025
Texas freshman defensive end Colin Simmons also earned recognition, sharing the defensive lineman of the week honor with Ole Miss’ Kam Franklin. Simmons recorded five tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and a recovery.
Manning’s Growth Comes at Critical Stretch of Texas’ Season Schedule
Texas offensive coordinator and head coach Steve Sarkisian said Manning “looks so much more mature” and “so much more poised” compared to earlier in the year, noting increased confidence and trust in teammates.
The coaching staff made adjustments along the offensive line that paid off Saturday. The switch moved sophomore Connor Stroh to center and senior Cole Hutson to guard, and the unit didn’t allow a single sack.
Manning was blitzed on 10 of his 34 dropbacks and finished 8-10 for 145 yards with all three touchdowns coming against five or more pass rushers. The redshirt sophomore delivered touchdown passes to CJ Baxter and Emmett Mosley V in addition to the early connection with Wingo.
Texas now sits at 7-2 overall and 4-1 in SEC play heading into a bye week. The Longhorns face a challenging final stretch with games against No. 5 Georgia on Nov. 15, followed by Arkansas and a regular-season finale against No. 3 Texas A&M on Nov. 28.
Manning’s recent performances have arrived at the right time for a Texas, as the team are putting all effort to position itself for both playoff contention and a potential SEC Championship Game appearance.
The weekly honor from the conference validates what the Longhorns saw Saturday: a quarterback who has taken steps forward when his team needed them most.
