Arch Manning is poised to start for Texas in 2025, and his father, Cooper, believes this might be the best outcome in the long run. When Manning pledged to join the Texas Longhorns, he did so with immense hype surrounding his commitment. As a member of the Manning family, he naturally attracts considerable attention, yet this past year he served as the backup to Quinn Ewers, who led the Longhorns to consecutive College Football Playoff semifinals in 2023 and 2024.
Cooper discussed Arch’s situation on The Dan Patrick Show before the Super Bowl, explaining that while Manning’s time on the bench might have been frustrating, it could ultimately benefit him. “I think having your children struggle with some things is good. Yeah, it’s frustrating not to play. Did he love it? No. Was it probably good for him in the long run? Yes,” Manning shared regarding his son’s experience this past year via On3.
Manning elaborated, “You don’t want your kiddos to come home and be unhappy. But at the same time, sometimes going through a little hardship and some bumps in the road are good. Arch is going to have plenty more of those. These are the real ones.” He predicted that Arch would face challenges ahead, indicating that he is likely receiving excessive attention and credit, leading to inevitable struggles. “So, he’s going to struggle, and they’re going to say, ‘He’s not as good. He’s overrated.’ It’s coming. Everybody knows it. So, it’s kind of easy to see the writing on the wall.”
Overall, Cooper’s insights about Arch’s path made a lot of sense.
