Honestly, if you looked at the preseason hype for the 2025 Texas Longhorns, you probably thought we were looking at a 15-0 cakewalk to a national title. Arch Manning was finally taking the keys. The SEC was officially home. But college football is never that clean. The final texas longhorns football game stats tell a story that's way more of a rollercoaster than the "10-3" record suggests.
Texas finished the year ranked No. 14 in the AP Poll, capping things off with a 41-27 win over Michigan in the Citrus Bowl. It wasn't the Playoff berth fans craved, but let's be real: winning 10 games in your second year in the SEC while breaking in a sophomore quarterback is hard.
The Arch Manning Era: By the Numbers
Everyone wanted to see if Arch was just a last name or a legit superstar. The stats say he's the real deal, though he had some "learning moments" for sure. He finished the season with 3,163 passing yards and 26 touchdowns against 7 interceptions. That 61.4% completion rate is solid, but it’s the rushing stats that actually surprised people.
Arch wasn't just a pocket passer; he tucked it and ran 92 times for nearly 400 yards and 10 rushing scores. He basically became a goal-line weapon.
In the Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma, he was ice cold. He only threw for 166 yards, but he didn't turn the ball over and managed a 23-6 win. Compare that to the Georgia game in Athens, where the stats got ugly fast. He was under fire all night, and the Longhorns only managed 10 points. It was a reality check.
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Key Offensive Playmakers
- Ryan Wingo: The sophomore wideout was the clear WR1, hauling in 54 catches for 834 yards. He’s got that "it" factor.
- Parker Livingstone: Talk about a deep threat. He averaged 17.8 yards per catch and had that insane 83-yard TD against San Jose State.
- Tre Wisner: He carried the load at running back with 597 yards, despite dealing with some nagging injuries that limited him to 9 games.
- Jack Endries: The tight end became a security blanket in the red zone with 3 touchdowns on 33 catches.
Defensive Grit and the Anthony Hill Factor
If Arch was the face of the offense, Anthony Hill Jr. was the soul of the defense. The guy is a vacuum. He racked up 69 tackles, 4 sacks, and 3 interceptions. People forget how rare it is for a linebacker to have those kinds of ball-hawk stats while still being a thumper in the run game.
Texas’ defense actually gave up fewer yards per game (338.8) than the offense gained (388.5), which is a weird stat for a Steve Sarkisian team. Usually, it's the other way around. They were particularly nasty against the run, holding opponents to just 3.1 yards per carry.
The Kentucky game was arguably the defensive highlight of the year. Texas only had 179 total yards of offense. You shouldn't win those games. But the defense came up with a legendary goal-line stand in overtime, stuffing the Wildcats four times from the 1-yard line. That’s how you get to 10 wins when your offense is having a bad day.
Breaking Down the 2025 Schedule and Results
The season started with a punch to the mouth in Columbus. A 14-7 loss to Ohio State showed that the offensive line wasn't quite ready for elite Big Ten size yet. But they bounced back.
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| Opponent | Result | Score | Key Stat |
|---|---|---|---|
| at Ohio State | Loss | 7-14 | Held to 132 passing yards |
| San Jose State | Win | 38-7 | Arch Manning: 5 total TDs |
| UTEP | Win | 27-10 | Defense forced 3 turnovers |
| Sam Houston | Win | 55-0 | 500+ yards of total offense |
| at Florida | Loss | 21-29 | 3 lost fumbles killed drives |
| vs. Oklahoma | Win | 23-6 | Held OU to two field goals |
| at Kentucky | Win | 16-13 (OT) | 45-yard GW field goal by Mason Shipley |
| at Mississippi St | Win | 45-38 (OT) | Anthony Hill: 3 sacks |
| Vanderbilt | Win | 34-31 | Close call against a Top 10 Vandy |
| at Georgia | Loss | 10-35 | 5 sacks allowed by O-line |
| Arkansas | Win | 52-37 | Highest scoring game of the year |
| Texas A&M | Win | 27-17 | Lone Star Showdown returned to Austin |
| vs. Michigan | Win | 41-27 | Citrus Bowl Victory |
Why the A&M Game Still Matters Most
Stats are great, but the 27-17 win over Texas A&M on the Friday after Thanksgiving felt like a championship. It was the first time the "Lone Star Showdown" happened in Austin in ages. The atmosphere was vibrating.
Texas didn't blow them out, but they controlled the clock. They out-rushed the Aggies, which was the goal going in. When you look at the texas longhorns football game stats for that specific night, the 33:00+ time of possession stands out. Sarkisian went "old school" and just ground them down.
Specialized Units: The Hidden Wins
Don't sleep on the special teams. Ryan Niblett was a monster in the return game, earning second-team All-American honors. He had two massive punt returns against Kentucky that basically gave Texas the only points they could muster that night.
Then there's Mason Shipley. Kicking is usually stressful, but Shipley was 20-for-24 on field goals. His 53-yarder in Lexington was pure clutch. Without a reliable kicker, this team is probably 8-5 instead of 10-3.
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What’s the Takeaway?
Texas is no longer "back" in a meme way—they’re just a powerhouse again. They aren't perfect, though. The offensive line struggled in high-pressure road games (Ohio State and Georgia). They also had a penalty problem, averaging nearly 70 penalty yards per game. That’s something Sarkisian has to clean up if they want to leapfrog into the Top 4 next year.
To really understand where this program is going, look at the roster depth. Even with injuries to guys like CJ Baxter, they found ways to win. The 2025 season was a transition from the Quinn Ewers era to the Arch Manning era, and while it had bumps, the statistical foundation is incredibly strong.
If you’re tracking these stats for your own analysis or just for bragging rights, keep an eye on the turnover margin. Texas finished +11 on the year. That's usually the difference between a good season and a mediocre one.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans and Analysts:
- Watch the O-Line Transfers: With some struggles against Georgia/OSU, look for Texas to hit the portal for veteran tackles.
- Monitor Arch's Progression: Check if his completion percentage climbs toward 65% in spring ball; that’s the "elite" threshold.
- Follow the Defensive Coaching Changes: Since Texas already announced some defensive staff shifts, keep an eye on how the 4-2-5 scheme evolves to handle more "power run" SEC offenses.