November 28, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning warms up prior to the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Image Texans quarterback Arch Manning is no longer wearing a boot and is expected to participate in spring practice in limited capacity after undergoing minor foot surgery in January, according to an ESPN report.
“He just wanted to get us to sort out a problem that we’ve been dealing with for several years,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian told ESPN. “It wasn’t a serious problem at all. It takes time. Since the procedure will be done on your foot, we will carefully check to make sure you are 100% healthy before we leave.”
Manning, the No. 1 overall recruit in the class of 2023 and the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, took over as the Longhorns’ starter last offseason with a lot of pressure on his shoulders, leading the team to the No. 1 spot in the preseason AP poll and making noise as a top overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft.
After some initial growing pains, Manning came into his own toward the end of the 2025 season. With 14 touchdown passes, five rushing touchdowns and two interceptions in his final six games, he finished his first season as a starter completing 61.4% of his passes for 3,103 yards, 36 total touchdowns (26 passing, 10 rushing) and seven interceptions in 13 games.
“I think he gained a lot of confidence in the second half of the season. We learned about him, we learned his style of play, and he came back in a really good frame of mind. “… This is his team,” Sarkisian said of Manning’s interview with ESPN. “… At the end of the day, naturally, he wants to win a championship. Everything else will fall into place, but that’s where his mindset is. He is a great team player and it shows every day.”
Texas opens the 2026 season at home on September 5 against Texas State.
–Field level media
