AUSTIN, Texas — Arch Manning hit the ground in the tunnel before the Texas Longhorns took the field for their season opener Saturday, and he spent part of Monday’s media availability laughing about it.
Texas ran out through heavy theatrical fog ahead of the 59-7 win over Texas State at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Manning fell forward and was out of frame for about a second.
Manning carried no injury designation into the week and threw for 305 yards and 4 touchdowns that afternoon.
“It was definitely a little bit of a shock,” Manning said. “I was definitely thrown off. It’s hard to see in that smoke. It’s a little deceiving. It was good to get my first hit before the game started and get ready to roll.”
A fan grabbed Manning’s throwing arm as he ran past, causing him to fall over a videographer.
Arch Manning Opened The Season With 4 Touchdown Passes
Manning went 20-of-27 for 305 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 1 interception against Texas State. He spread the ball to eight receivers. Manning left the game midway through the third quarter with Texas ahead 42-7. The four touchdown passes tied a career high he had reached twice in 2025.
Manning is in his fourth season at Texas and his second as the full-time starter.
Across 13 games last season, Manning threw for 3,163 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. Manning ran for 399 yards and 10 more scores. In SEC play the Longhorns went 6-2. Texas missed the College Football Playoff. Texas closed a 10-3 season by beating Michigan in the Citrus Bowl, where Manning was named most valuable player.
Texas Longhorns Host Ohio State On Saturday Night
The Ohio State Buckeyes opened this season with a 56-3 win over Ball State in Columbus. Ohio State has won the past two meetings with Texas, including a 14-7 win in last season’s opener at Ohio Stadium and a 28-14 win in the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal on Jan. 10, 2025.
Manning went 17-of-30 for 170 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception in the Columbus game. Manning said Monday he does not like watching that film.
Saturday will be the sixth meeting between the two programs. Ohio State will be the first No. 1 team to visit Austin since Alabama in 2022.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day is 2-0 against Texas coach Steve Sarkisian.
No. 1 Ohio State and No. 5 Texas kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT Saturday at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. ABC has the broadcast, and ESPN’s “College GameDay” broadcasts from the Texas campus from 8 to 11 a.m. CT that morning. Texas hosts UTSA on Sept. 19 and plays at Tennessee on Sept. 26.
