Arch Manning Earns Massive Praise For Citrus Bowl Performance

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Arch Manning Earns Massive Praise For Citrus Bowl Performance

2025 was an up-and-down year for Texas quarterback Arch Manning. A 9-3 record with losses to Ohio State, Georgia and Florida kept the Longhorns out of the College Football Playoff and had many fans dismissing Manning as a viable NFL starter. But he is ending this year on a very high note.

Manning completed 21 of 35 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns while rushing nine times for a whopping 155 yards and two more touchdowns in a 41-27 win over Michigan in the Citrus Bowl.

The win gives Texas 10 wins to end the season and they will probably wind up ranked in the top-12.

Praise for Arch

Across social media, football fans are praising Manning for using his arms and legs to get a win over a quality team (albeit one with an interim head coach).

"Arch Manning's been exceptional today, making so many impressive plays with his arm and his legs. You can see why folks inside the Texas football program have been so excited about him," The Athletic's Bruce Feldman wrote on X.

"It took me until today to see it. This comparison was staring us right in the face all along. Max Duggan=Arch Manning," a TCU fan remarked.

"21 years ago tomorrow, Vince Young had 372 total-offense yards and 5 touchdowns against Michigan in the Rose Bowl. Today, Arch Manning had 376 total-offense yards and 4 touchdowns against Michigan in the Citrus Bowl," wrote a third.

Oct 11, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) drops back to pass against the Oklahoma Sooners during the first half at the Cotton Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

With his performance today, Manning ends the year with over 3,000 passing yards and 26 touchdowns through the air. On the ground he added nearly 400 yards and another 10 touchdowns.

For the record, those marks are both better than his famous uncles, Eli Manning and Peyton Manning, had in their junior years at Ole Miss and Tennessee respectively.

There's a lot to be excited about in 2026.

This story was originally published by The Spun on Jan 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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