Arch Manning did everything he could on Saturday to help fans forget his abysmal Week 1 performance in Texas’ loss to Ohio State.
Facing the San Jose State Spartans, the third generation of Manning quarterbacks tossed four touchdown passes and gained 295 yards through the air on 19 of 30 passing to win 38-7 in Austin.
And even though he did get picked off, Manning was also impressive on the ground, rushing for X yards and a touchdown as the seventh-ranked Longhorns scored seemingly at will.
But to fans who witnessed Texas’ offense sputter with the sophomore Manning under center last week in Columbus, Saturday’s effort was all too easy to pick apart.
For starters, his 83-yard touchdown pass to receiver Parker Livingstone was only made possible by the Spartans defensive back who slipped, allowing a 20-yard pass to turn into a foot race to the end zone.
What’s more, some armchair quarterbacks felt the pass was actually underthrown.
Manning greets fans before the game against the San Jose State Spartans on Saturday
Texas wide receiver Parker Livingstone turned a 20-yard pass from Arch Manning into a touchdown when San Jose State cornerback Jalen Bainer slipped in coverage
‘That wasn’t even a good throw,’ wrote critic wrote on X. ‘Very underthrown.’
‘underthrow btw,’ another responded, ‘[defensive back] slipped too.’
Others pointed out that Livingstone was ‘WIDE open’ on the play even before the defender slipped.
‘A high school QB could have thrown that duck to a wide open broken coverage receiver,’ another critic added. ‘If he didn’t make it he would be benched.’
But many, many more critics instead focused on the opposition – a considerable step down from last week at the Horseshoe, where the No. 1 Longhorns opened the season against No. 3 Ohio State.
Manning, the nephew of Super Bowl winners Peyton and Eli Manning, completed just 17 of 30 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown in the 14-7 loss while throwing an interception and taking a bad sack.
And given the expectations that come with being Archie Manning’s grandson and a five-star recruit, Arch faced considerable criticism from fans and even some anonymous scouts in the days since.
Unfortunately for him, even Saturday’s breakout performance against San Jose State wasn’t enough to change some folks’ minds.
‘My CYO team can beat San Jose State,’ one fan wrote, referring to Catholic Youth Organization pee-wee football.
‘Of course he goes off against SJSU,’ another added. ‘Where was he last week ?’
