Texas’ Arch Manning Gets Another Surprise Message After A Devastating Loss

Sanders is no stranger to the intense expectations that come with being a quarterback from a football-famous family. His own son, Shedeur Sanders, has faced heavy scrutiny and constant media attention throughout his time in both college football and the NFL.

Deion Sanders’ Message To Arch Manning

Now entering his junior season, Arch Manning has seen limited action, appearing in just 11 games with only two starts over his first two years at Texas, largely due to playing behind Quinn Ewers.

Now at the helm of one of college football’s premier programs, Manning began the season as a Heisman contender, with Texas viewed as a top national title threat. However, after a tough loss in Week 1, pressure is already mounting on the 21-year-old signal-caller.

Deion Sanders empathizes with the weight Manning is carrying and offered some personal advice—stay true to yourself, no matter how loud the outside noise gets.

“Stop trying to be what others expect you to be,” Sanders said. “Not saying Arch is doing that—but that’s the message I give my sons, my team, and everyone around me

Deion Sanders didn’t hold back when speaking about authenticity, emphasizing the importance of being genuine in a world full of people pretending to be something they’re not.

“There are so many people out here faking it—acting like it’s Halloween when it’s not,” Sanders said. “Real success comes from consistently being the best version of yourself.”

Texas Falls in Historic Upset

Texas’ 14-7 loss to Ohio State was historic—it marked the first time in 35 years that a preseason No. 1 team lost in Week 1. Although the Buckeyes were ranked third and entered as the defending national champions, the disappointing performance—particularly Arch Manning’s stat line—wasn’t what Longhorns fans were expecting from a team with championship hopes.

Meanwhile, Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes also dropped their season opener, falling 27-20 to Georgia Tech. A key factor in the loss was questionable clock management late in the game. Sanders defended his decisions, saying the real issue was missed opportunities earlier in the game.

“If we executed the plays we had, we wouldn’t be having this conversation,” Sanders said. “The plays were there—we just didn’t make them. Should we have called a timeout? No, not at that moment. You’re in tempo. You have to move.”

Transfer QB Kaidon Salter led Colorado in the loss, completing 17 of 28 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown. Looking ahead to Week 2 against Delaware, Sanders announced that highly touted five-star freshman Julian Lewis will see playing time.

“He’s definitely playing this week,” Sanders confirmed during his Tuesday press conference.

Julian Lewis, the highest-rated quarterback recruit in Colorado history, joined the program after committing in November 2024. Ranked as the No. 10 quarterback nationally, Lewis is expected to see action in this week’s game against an FCS opponent.

Following tough Week 1 losses to strong opponents, both Texas and Colorado now enter a more manageable stretch of their schedules—each aiming to regroup and get back on track in a season filled with high expectations.