Arch Manning reacts to viral pregame tunnel fall after Texas win
Arch Manning was able to laugh off what could have been a scary start to his latest college football season with the Texas Longhorns.
On Saturday, the No. 5-ranked Longhorns started their 2026 campaign against Texas State. While the opponent wasn’t a major issue, as Manning and company made relatively easy work of them, getting out to the field nearly was.
As Manning ran out of the tunnel with his teammates, a cameraman ran close behind him. Suddenly, Manning tumbled in the tunnel full of smoke effects.
He stood right back up, but the initial incident looked scary, with an injury seeming possible before he even took the field. However, Manning brushed it off and then performed admirably in his first game of the season.
“It was definitely a little bit of a shock,” he said postgame. “It’s hard to see in that smoke. It’s a little deceiving. But it was good to get my first hit before the game starts.”
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On Sunday, Barstool Sports shared a video highlight of the infamous tunnel tumble, joking that Manning was “almost lost” during the incident.
That video post racked up over 7,000 likes and many comments reacting to what transpired for the Longhorns’ star quarterback.
“Arch Manning almost going down before the game is the most college football thing ever,” one commenter wrote.
“Arch keep your feet under you!!! I’m glad Bevo wasn’t loose in the tunnel. You would’ve been stampeded,” someone joked about the real-life steer which is the Longhorns’ mascot.
Others commented, “Good thing he was wearing full pads and a helmet” and “Maybe the smoke machine wasn’t the best idea.”
While it may have shaken him up, Manning certainly didn’t seem to suffer any ill effects after the fall. He went on to complete 20 of 27 passes for 305 yards and four touchdowns for one interception. The Longhorns won in a 59-7 blowout, making for a successful start to the season.
Texas’s success this season will hinge on Manning’s availability and his performance in games. Thankfully, he didn’t sustain any injuries before he actually got on the field.
It’s early, but he’s currently among the top contenders for this season’s Heisman Trophy along with Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr and Oregon’s Donte Moore. After this past week’s games, Miami quarterback Darian Mensah moved into the lead, with Manning close behind.
He’s also considered a top-three NFL Draft pick next year. An ESPN mock draft before the season started listed Manning as going second overall to the Arizona Cardinals.
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