Former Texas Coach Mack Brown Compared Longhorns Quarterback Arch Manning to Vince Young, Who Led Texas to the 2005 National Championship
In the ever-competitive world of college football, comparisons between rising stars and past legends are common, but few carry the weight of a coach like Mack Brown. As the former Texas Longhorns head coach who guided the team through one of its most iconic eras, Brown is not one to hand out praise lightly. So when he recently compared Texas’ current quarterback Arch Manning to Vince Young—the very player who delivered Texas its last national championship in 2005—it wasn’t just a passing remark. It was a bold statement that has sparked intense interest across the college football landscape.
Mack Brown, who now serves as head coach at the University of North Carolina, made the comment during a candid discussion on a newly launched podcast that he co-hosts alongside Vince Young and CBS Sports’ Bob Ballou. In speaking about Arch Manning’s early days at Texas, Brown emphasized Manning’s demeanor, humility, and potential, drawing a direct line between the young quarterback and the legendary Vince Young. “He listens. He’s very humble. He’s kind of self-deprecating. But I like it,” Brown said. “He’s a whole lot like Vince at the same age.”
Those words have resonated across Longhorn Nation and beyond. Vince Young is not just a football icon in Austin—he is a symbol of triumph, resilience, and Longhorn pride. His performance in the 2006 Rose Bowl, where he led Texas to a 41–38 victory over USC, is widely considered one of the greatest individual performances in college football history. Young threw for 267 yards, rushed for 200 more, and scored three rushing touchdowns, including the game-winner with just 19 seconds left on the clock. That game didn’t just secure Texas the national title; it etched Vince Young’s name into football lore.
To suggest that Arch Manning could mirror that kind of impact is no small compliment. Manning, of course, comes from football royalty. As the grandson of Archie Manning, nephew to Peyton and Eli, and one of the most heavily recruited players in recent history, the expectations placed on Arch have been enormous since high school. Even before taking his first collegiate snap, he was the subject of intense media scrutiny and fan speculation. But according to Brown—and several others within the Texas program—Manning has handled that pressure with maturity and composure.
That maturity was on full display during Manning’s limited action in the 2024 season. Though he began the year as a backup, he made the most of his opportunities, finishing the season with 939 passing yards, nine touchdowns, and only two interceptions while completing nearly 68% of his throws. Perhaps more impressively, he demonstrated a dual-threat capability that surprised many, including a 67-yard touchdown run that had fans reminiscing about Young’s game-breaking speed. It was the longest touchdown run by a Texas quarterback since, fittingly, Vince Young himself.
Still, Mack Brown’s comparison was not rooted in athletic stats alone. What stood out most to him was how Manning conducted himself—how he leads, how he absorbs coaching, how he handles the spotlight. For Brown, it’s those intangible qualities—humility, composure, leadership—that define the great ones. He saw those same traits in Vince Young as a young player, and he sees them now in Arch Manning.
Vince Young himself, who was present during the conversation, echoed those sentiments. He spoke highly of Manning’s leadership in the locker room and his ability to connect with teammates. Young pointed out that despite being a high-profile name with a famous last name, Manning has never acted entitled or above the team. “He’s one of the guys,” Young said. “That’s what you want in a leader. He doesn’t make it about him. He wants to win.”
The timing of this praise couldn’t be more significant. Texas is heading into its most anticipated season in nearly two decades. The Longhorns are coming off back-to-back College Football Playoff semifinal appearances and are now viewed as legitimate national title contenders under head coach Steve Sarkisian. With Manning stepping into the full-time starting role for the 2025 season, the weight of expectations is heavier than ever.
The comparisons to Vince Young—while flattering—will also raise the bar even higher for Manning. Young’s legacy includes a national championship, an undefeated season, and one of the greatest moments in Texas sports history. For Arch Manning, the task isn’t to replicate that journey move-for-move, but to carve out his own legacy while carrying forward the same qualities that made Young great.
That won’t be easy. College football has changed dramatically since 2005. The transfer portal, NIL deals, and a new media landscape have made the game more volatile and public than ever before. Manning, with his high-profile last name and elite status, is already one of the most talked-about athletes in the sport. Every play, every game, every interview will be dissected. How he handles that pressure—especially in comparison to Vince Young’s unflappable nature—will go a long way in defining his career.
But there are reasons to be optimistic. Inside the Texas locker room, Manning is reportedly a steady presence. He is known for his work ethic, his attention to detail in film study, and his willingness to be coached. He’s not just riding the coattails of his last name; he’s earning the respect of his teammates and coaches day by day. That respect, more than any stat or highlight reel, is what Mack Brown and Vince Young see as the defining connection between the two quarterbacks.
For fans, Brown’s comments provide a powerful narrative thread. Texas has long searched for “the next Vince Young”—a quarterback who could reignite the program and restore it to national prominence. There have been talented players over the years—Colt McCoy, Sam Ehlinger, Quinn Ewers—but none have quite captured the magic or led the Longhorns back to the mountaintop. Manning, it seems, might be the one who finally does.
And yet, it’s worth remembering that both Vince Young and Arch Manning had to grow into greatness. Young didn’t become a superstar overnight. He had growing pains, difficult losses, and doubters along the way. But he stayed the course, trusted his coaches, and rose to the occasion when it mattered most. If Manning can do the same, Texas fans may one day look back on Mack Brown’s comparison not as a hopeful prophecy, but as a well-earned recognition.
As the Longhorns prepare for a new season, the spotlight will only intensify. Arch Manning will be at the center of it, carrying not just a famous name, but now also the weight of a powerful comparison. But if Mack Brown is right—and he’s someone who would know—then Manning might just have the tools, both on and off the field, to live up to it.
Vince Young changed the trajectory of Texas football. He gave fans a moment they’ll never forget. Now, nearly two decades later, Mack Brown sees a familiar spark in a young quarterback who is just getting started. Time will tell if Arch Manning can rise to that level, but one thing is certain: the foundation is there. And with the right mindset, the right leadership, and the same quiet confidence that defined Vince Young, Manning might just lead Texas back to the promised land.
