Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning hasn’t had the kind of start to the 2025 season that many were expecting through the first three weeks of the season. But according to former Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, Manning isn’t getting the kind of time necessary to develop as a player.
Manning’s struggles as a passer have been evident, completing just 55.3 percent of his passes on the year, with interceptions in all three games he has played in. As the Longhorns’ schedule gets tougher, they will certainly need Manning to be a more accurate passer if they want to contend for a College Football Playoff spot this year.
Arch Manning #16 of the Texas Longhorns reacts after rushing for a touchdown in the second half against the San Jose State Spartans at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 06, 2025 in Austin,…
Arch Manning #16 of the Texas Longhorns reacts after rushing for a touchdown in the second half against the San Jose State Spartans at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 06, 2025 in Austin, Texas.
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Ahead of the Week 4 matchup between Texas and Sam Houston, the SEC Network pregame crew discussed what has been the problem for Manning thus far. And Tebow made it a point to preach patience with Manning’s development instead of asking him to be perfect in his first full season as a starter.
“I think that pressure is real,” said Tebow. “And he’s been under more pressure than anybody else in the country. I think something that is really important for him is playing free. Allowing him to play free. I believe that he can make every throw. I believe that he is a really good athlete. I believe he can be a really good decision-maker. But there has been a lot of pressure.
“There is a reason that if you go look at the PGA Tour, all of these players that go and play on Thursday and Friday and shoot incredibly low, they are playing the same course on Sunday. Why can’t they have the same score? Because pressure is real. And he has been under it. He’s got like what, five starts? Give him a chance to learn, grow, adapt.”
To Tebow’s point, it is incredibly harsh to suggest, as many have done, that Manning may be a bust due to the fact that his first five college starts haven’t been all that impressive.
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Chances are, as Manning gets more comfortable under center every game, he will show more flashes of the talent that most saw from him dating back to his high school days.
But with that being said, if he does continue to struggle down the stretch of the 2025 season, more critics could very well emerge to downplay his abilities, given all of the expectations he has placed on him at the moment.
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