Arch Manning is laser focused on one thing ahead of 2025 season

Arch Manning is focused on taking things one day at a time ahead as the college football season beckons. 

The potential 2026 NFL draft first-round pick does not even have April on his mind as he enters his first season as the starting quarterback at Texas. 

“I’m really just worried about getting through this interview and then getting through the run tomorrow,” Manning told reporters Tuesday at SEC media days. “I’m just focused on this year and getting better each day.”

Manning, the nephew of former NFL quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning, has not yet gone full-tilt at Texas, sitting behind Quinn Ewers for two years.

He called his time on the bench “tough,” and he had to find other ways to nourish his competitive spirit.

One way he did this was by playing recreational basketball.

His dad, Cooper Manning, saw those struggles as character-building moments. 

“I’ve always liked when things didn’t go perfectly for my children because I thought it builds character,” Cooper said in an interview with Yahoo Sports this week. “If they’re complaining about something, either they are going to fix it themselves, overcome it or make an adjustment. Mom and Dad coming to the rescue is only when it’s really bad. Let them deal and overcome.”

Last season, Arch, even as Ewers’ backup, got his first extended opportunity to play, logging nine throwing touchdowns with 939 yards. 

Now, with Manning finally taking over as QB1 this season, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is hoping that the signal-caller has a tough choice to make after the season concludes.

“I just want the guy to have a really good season this year, and we will cross that bridge when it comes,” Sarkisian said. “I hope he has a really hard decision to make because that probably means he played really good.”