The surprising Texas Longhorns legend Arch Manning leans on to handle the pressure
Behind Arch Manning's breakout season was an unlikely mentor.
The weight of the Manning name, his status as the nation's former No. 1 recruit, and the responsibility of being Texas' quarterback have placed every step of his career under the microscope. That pressure reached its peak early in his first full season as the Longhorns' starter in 2025, when Texas stumbled in several marquee games and Manning admitted he had stopped enjoying football.
That was when someone who understands better than anyone what it means to carry the expectations of wearing the Texas uniform stepped in. Longhorns legend Colt McCoy became one of Arch Manning 's most important mentors away from the field.
“Obviously I have a lot of great mentors in my life and people to look up to, but it’s always cool having a guy that played here, was in your shoes,” Manning said of McCoy, according to KXAN reporter Noah Gross . “He’s been so open to me. I’ve been super grateful for our relationship.”
Colt McCoy, the mentor Arch Manning needed
While McCoy acknowledges that few people can truly understand the unique pressure that comes with being a member of the Manning family, he knows exactly what it means to be the face of the Texas football program.
McCoy inherited the starting job after Vince Young , one of the greatest players in Longhorns history, departed following the 2005 national championship . Rather than shrink from the spotlight, McCoy built a legacy of his own, earning All-American honors, winning 45 games as Texas' starting quarterback, and leading the Longhorns back to the national championship game.
That experience gives Manning something even his famous football family cannot provide. McCoy has lived through the daily pressure of leading Texas and understands the enormous expectations that come with being the Longhorns' quarterback in Austin.
According to Noah Gross, McCoy was one of the people who helped Manning regain his confidence and, more importantly, rediscover his love for the game during the 2025 season . Manning admitted he changed his mindset after spending the first half of the year frustrated with his performances.
In his first full season as Texas' starter, Manning threw for 3,163 yards, 26 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also added 399 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns , leading the Longhorns to a 10-3 record . Texas closed the season by winning seven of its final eight games, including victories over Texas A&M and Michigan .
Manning entered the 2026 season as a candidate for several of college football's top individual awards and remains one of the sport's most closely watched quarterbacks. The difference now is that he knows what it takes to handle those expectations—and he has a mentor who has already walked that same path.
