Arch Manning may never be what we thought, but his latest clutch moment changed everything

If Arch Manning were having a better season, his game-winning touchdown pass with three seconds left in Texas' 22-21 win at LSU on Saturday night could have been his Heisman moment. There probably won't be a Heisman ceremony coming for Manning next month, but there will be plenty to anticipate.

Because of his 4-yard touchdown strike to Raleek Brown, there will almost certainly be a playoff game in Manning's future. A Heisman moment? No, but a signature moment? Absolutely.

Two months after leading a historic rally to beat No. 1 Ohio State, Manning showed the clutch gene once again. No one knew for sure if he still had it.

When Texas beat the Buckeyes, the world was at Manning's fingertips. He was expected to be one of the best quarterbacks in college football. Though he struggled against Ohio State, the 20-point comeback he led only heightened the hype surrounding him as the 2026 season ramped up.

It was off to the races, and it wasn't hard to envision Manning rising to become the No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. A storybook year seemed to be developing.

Maybe it still is — just after some twists and turns.

Original source: https://www.cbssports.com/