Arch Manning, the senior quarterback for the Texas Longhorns, has once again earned a spot on the preseason watch list for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, marking the second consecutive year he has been recognized for one of college football’s most prestigious quarterback honors.
Award Watch Lists and Historic Context
The award, presented by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, celebrates senior or upperclassmen quarterbacks who excel on the field while demonstrating leadership off it, and Manning’s inclusion follows his breakout 2025 season that helped Texas finish 10‑3 and capture three victories over top‑20 opponents.
Manning’s statistical line reads like a modern dual‑threat masterpiece. He completed 248 of 404 passes for 3,163 yards and 26 touchdowns, posting a 61.39% completion rate while also ranking second on the team in rushing with 399 yards and 10 rushing scores.
His ability to dominate both through the air and on the ground was on full display in the 2025 Cheez‑It Citrus Bowl, where he threw for 221 yards and two touchdowns while adding 155 rushing yards and two more scores, earning MVP honors in a 41‑27 win over Michigan.
The performance was not an isolated incident. Over the final six games of the season, Manning amassed 1,714 passing yards and 205 rushing yards, averaging 320 total yards per game and scoring 20 touchdowns, a stretch that featured three 300‑yard passing outings without an interception.
Such consistency has placed him among an elite group of Power Conference quarterbacks, as he holds the highest career home passing touchdown percentage among active leaders at 9.5%, and he is the only FBS quarterback in the past three decades to combine a 200‑yard passing game with a 150‑yard rushing effort, multiple touchdowns, no sacks and no turnovers in a single contest.
Beyond the numbers, Manning’s impact is reflected in his recognition on multiple watch lists, including the Walter Camp National Player of the Year Award, the Maxwell Award, and the Davey O’Brien Football Award’s Postseason Great 8, as well as his selection as one of 15 finalists for the Manning Award.
Looking ahead, Texas will open the 2026 season on September 5 against Texas State at Darrell K Royal‑Texas Memorial Stadium, a game that could set the tone for what many expect to be another historic campaign.