Arch Manning, a potential 2026 NFL draft first-round pick, took massive heat for his starting QB debut in the Longhorns’ 14-7 loss to No. 3 Ohio State. While social media was too harsh on him, former Cowboys legend Dez Bryant went to war to defend his debut on Saturday afternoon.
The No. 1 team looked flat in Columbus, with Manning completing just 17 of 30 passes for 170 yards, one touchdown, and one interception against the defending national champions.
It was a hard-fought, low-scoring affair but critics focused on Manning hype couldn’t hide their frustration. The ex-NFL star later broke down the route concepts to defend Manning’s decision-making.
He even clapped back hard at critics who unfairly blamed the sophomore for missing throws on the final drive.
Dez Bryant Claps Back Hard at Arch Manning Critic
Texas looked out of sync from the start, trailing 14-0 deep into the fourth quarter. The Longhorns didn’t find the end zone until 3:28 remained, when Manning connected with Parker Livingstone for a 32-yard touchdown pass.
Longhorns fans are still in disbelief that Manning was entirely shut out against the Buckeyes’ defense. Except for Bryant, almost everyone ripped the signal-caller. However, the 36-year-old zeroed in on one particular fan who criticized Manning’s final drive execution.
The former receiver explained how the sophomore QB was “trying to protect” his targets on certain throws, noting that “he made some bad throws, and that was one on the final drive” but defending the quarterback’s overall approach.
I said he made some bad throws and that was 1 on the final drive… but like I said.. he made some throws trying to protect the WR from getting blown up as well… if you are running shallow routes.. the Wr is taught to sit down vs zone.. if the WR showing eyes to QB you are… https://t.co/urmFVz4t5Q
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) August 30, 2025
His frustration boiled over when he dropped, “11 men on the field have to know their alignment and assignments in order to execute.. it’s hard for a lot of you to truly understand football because you so f***ing caught up in the politics…”
This serious back-and-forth highlights that modern fans are too caught up in unrealistic expectations rather than evaluating actual football performance. But Manning accepted his fault after the game.
Arch Manning Gets Real About His Performance
The 21-year-old didn’t hide himself from the criticism. He took full accountability for their offensive struggles against Ohio State’s elite defense.
“Ultimately, not good enough,” Manning told reporters. “Obviously, you don’t want to start off the season going 0-1. They’re a good team, but I thought we beat ourselves a lot. That starts with me. I’ve got to play better for us to win.”
Like Bryant, coach Steve Sarkisian also tried to provide perspective on the quarterback’s first start, calling the 14-7 loss just “one chapter” in Manning’s season. But it doesn’t seem to lessen the pressure, as scouts from more than a dozen NFL teams were watching the game.
The starting debut may not have gone as planned, but Manning’s response and Bryant’s defense suggest the sophomore has the support system to bounce back from a tough opening performance.
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