The Arkansas secondary entered Saturday’s matchup against Texas already carrying a reputation for being one of the worst units in college football and by the final whistle, the Longhorns had only reinforced that perception.
Arkansas’ defense showed small signs of growth last week against LSU, holding the Tigers’ middling offense in check. But the small glimmer of hope vanished against a Texas offense led by Arch Manning, who delivered a complete masterclass performance in a high-pressure rivalry game.
Secondary Struggles Exposed
The Razorbacks’ pass defense was already one of the worst in the country before kickoff: they rank in the bottom 30 nationally, allowing 245.3 passing yards per game, and their overall points allowed per game sits in the bottom 15 in the country at 32.3. Against Texas, it became painfully clear those numbers will likely climb. Manning sliced through the Arkansas secondary with ease, showing off accuracy, poise, and creativity in every phase of the game.
Arch Manning and Coach Sark's Offensive Masterclass
Manning’s stat line read like something from a highlight reel or something from Madden: nearly 400 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown, and a receiving touchdown on a trick play from Parker Livingstone. On that first-quarter play, Manning leapt to catch a pass thrown by Livingstone for an easy score, immediately putting the Longhorns on top and setting the tone for the rest of the afternoon.
From that moment forward, it was Manning dictating the pace of the game. Texas’ passing game was virtually unstoppable, and despite limited success on the ground, the Longhorns didn’t need to run the ball against a defense that struggled to cover even the simplest routes.
Credit also goes to Steve Sarkisian, who executed a near-perfect game plan. The offensive calls were aggressive, creative, and perfectly suited to exploit Arkansas’ defensive weaknesses. It was a statement performance in a pressure-packed matchup, with Texas looking to assert dominance in a rivalry game and keep College Football Playoff hopes alive.
Razorbacks’ Defensive Woes Continue
For Arkansas, this game was another stark reminder of how far their defense still has to go. The secondary struggled to cover routes, misread Manning’s movements, and consistently left receivers open in high-leverage situations. Against a quarterback of Manning’s caliber, those mistakes were magnified and turned into an offensive clinic for Texas.
While last week against LSU offered a brief glimmer of improvement, this performance proves that Arkansas’ pass defense is still a major liability. With only one more game left on the schedule, the major point of emphasis for whoever is the next head coach will be to fix this defense. If not, teams will continue to exploit the Razorbacks’ secondary with similar efficiency in 2026 the same way as 2025.
Texas delivered a complete offensive performance, led by an electric Arch Manning who proved that when he’s in rhythm and the play-calling is sharp, he can dominate even in the highest-pressure situations. For Arkansas, the secondary remains a glaring weakness, a unit that gave up nearly everything and will need a major turnaround to avoid similar blowouts in the future.