Arch Manning already making smart leadership decisions after Longhorns’ loss in the Cotton Bowl
Manning chose not to talk about 2025 after the Cotton Bowl out of respect to his teammates
Moments after Friday’s Cotton Bowl loss to Ohio State, Texas quarterback Arch Manning was already making smart decisions.
Manning chose not to talk at length about the 28-14 loss or his future with the Longhorns out of respect to his teammates in AT&T Stadium. The media spotlight will be brighter than ever this spring, though.
It was a savvy move considering that the spotlight belonged to starter Quinn Ewers and the upperclassmen who battled throughout the College Football Playoffs.
Speaking with the Austin American-Statesman, Manning said, “It’s probably not the time to start thinking about next year because I have so much respect for these seniors.
“I've learned so much from them. They're just great people, and I'm going to miss them, for sure.”
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Manning was used sparsely down the season’s home stretch and had one play against the Buckeyes. He ran off tackle for an eight-yard gain on fourth-and-1 from midfield.
Manning praised the UT seniors with the Statesman and especially senior center Jake Majors. “What I’ll miss the most about Jake is just how great a guy he is.”
“Jake is always a straight-shooter,” Manning told the Statesman. “He’ll tell you not always what you want to hear, but what you need to hear. And he's a friend for life. And I'm so blessed that he's part of my life.”
ESPN cameras showed Manning sitting next to Ewers on the bench as they both looked at replays on tablets.
“I've learned so much from Quinn over the years,” Manning told the Statesman.
Now, Manning will be expected to step into Ewers’ role and lead the Horns next season and beyond. The plan was always for Ewers to play in 2024 and then go pro, leaving Manning to take the reins in 2025.
Ewers told ESPN in a pre-taped interview that he didn’t see himself playing college football in 2025. ESPN interpreted that to mean Ewers was going pro. The quarterback himself didn’t clarify his position after the game, but it’s widely expected he will not return to UT.
That means it’s Manning’s time in Austin.
