AUSTIN, Texas — Arch Manning does not enjoy going back through the film of last season’s 14-7 loss at Ohio State, he said Monday, six days before the Texas Longhorns host the Ohio State Buckeyes in a rematch in Austin.
Through three quarters in Columbus, Manning was 9-of-15 for 38 yards with 1 interception, and Ohio State led 14-0 with 13:08 left to play.
“It’s a rough film to watch,” Manning said Monday. “I don’t like watching it that much.”
Manning completed 8 of his next 15 throws for 132 yards and a touchdown to finish 17-of-30 for 170 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. The score came on a 32-yard throw to Parker Livingstone. Texas got the ball back at its own 15-yard line with 2:26 remaining, and Manning’s fourth-down completion to Jack Endries came up two yards short with 1:27 to go.
Arch Manning On The 2025 Loss At Ohio State
It was Manning’s first career road start and his first start against a ranked opponent. The result was the first of three Texas losses that kept the Longhorns out of the College Football Playoff.
“Not a lot of good memories a year ago,” Manning explained. “Hoping to have a good game this year.”
Manning has a year of starting experience and a full offseason behind him this time.
“It’s not all the time you get a second chance to play another team after a rough loss,” Manning said. “So we’re all excited for the opportunity. I think we’ve all grown mentally and physically.”
Texas ran the ball 37 times for 166 yards in Columbus, an average of 4.5 yards per carry. Steve Sarkisian said the Longhorns were physical and prepared in that game.
“I think people think we just went out there and laid an egg and had minus-10 yards rushing or something,” Sarkisian said. “We ran the ball pretty well. I felt like the passing game was not where it needed to be the first two and a half, three quarters or so in that game. Then when you get behind, you’ve got to start throwing the ball.”
Texas Longhorns And Ohio State Kick Off Saturday Night In Austin
Texas opened this season Sept. 5 with a 59-7 win over Texas State at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Manning went 20-of-27 for 305 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 1 interception, and he spread the ball to eight receivers. The four touchdown passes tied a career high he had reached twice in 2025. He left the game midway through the third quarter with Texas ahead 42-7. Ohio State opened with a 56-3 win over Ball State in Columbus the same day.
Across 13 games in 2025, Manning threw for 3,163 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. He added 399 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns on the season. Texas finished 10-3, went 6-2 in SEC play, and closed the year with a Citrus Bowl win over Michigan, a game in which Manning was named most valuable player.
Saturday will be the sixth meeting between the two programs, which have played football since 1890 and 1893. Ohio State will be the first No. 1 team to visit Austin since Alabama in 2022.
“I think this is why you come to a school like Texas playing these big-time games,” Manning said. “I’m excited that it’s at home against a really good team, a good defense.”
Ohio State coach Ryan Day is 2-0 against Sarkisian. The Buckeyes also beat the Longhorns 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal on Jan. 10, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Texas hired Will Muschamp as defensive coordinator in the offseason. In the opener, the Longhorns forced three turnovers and recorded two sacks against Texas State.
No. 1 Ohio State and No. 5 Texas kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. ABC has the broadcast, and ESPN’s “College GameDay” is scheduled to originate from Austin.
