Arch Manning delivers chilling quote after Texas closes door on LSU’s College Football Playoff dreams

Arch Manning was slammed, ripped, torched – whatever you want to call it – all over social media as he faced an uphill battle to get the Texas Longhorns back into the game against the LSU Tigers.

Manning threw three interceptions to throw a game-winning touchdown pass to Raleek Brown, giving Texas a 22-21 victory over LSU. This likely saved Texas’ chances of making the College Football Playoff, but it also put the final nail in the coffin of the Tigers’ hopes.

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Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning calls for a play during the second half against the Louisiana State Tigers at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on November 14, 2026. (IMAGINE IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Manning was asked about closing the door on the Tigers after the game.

“We talked about, you know, you have to end someone else’s dream. I like to focus on us, but it feels good sometimes.”

It was perhaps Manning’s most excited moment after a victory. Once the clock hit three zeros, Manning took the field to celebrate with his Longhorns teammates. Most in college football wrote Manning off, but he proved that if there was time left, he would do his best to keep Texas in the game.

“It means the world,” Manning said. “I would point out to some of my teammates where I sat at those games growing up. So just to come home and do it in the last seconds, that’s a memory I’ll have for the rest of my life.”

Manning, by far, did not have his best performance. He showed up when it mattered most.

Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning celebrates after scoring a first-half touchdown against the LSU Tigers on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Jérôme Hicks/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect)

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That’s what winners do. And doing it in his home country was just the icing on the cake.

“It hadn’t been great all night; I thought it was time to do it,” Manning said. “I grew up with a lot of LSU fans. So it’s going to feel good to come back for Mardi Gras, or to come back every time I come home (to New Orleans), and not let them talk shit.”

For Lane Kiffin’s Tigers, they’re eyeing a regular bowl game appearance.

LSU has six wins this season in Kiffin’s first year at the helm. However, the main goal, especially with all the money spent to bring in Kiffin and field a title-contending team, was to advance to the 12-team playoffs.

“I understand,” Kiffin told reporters. “Underperformance. It doesn’t matter if the game was close or it went down to the last seconds, it doesn’t matter, six seconds. We were brought here to win and we need to win more than that.

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Louisiana State Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin reacts during the second half against Texas at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on November 14, 2026. (IMAGINE IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

“Now, also, not everything is built for the first year when you get somewhere, and I would tell you if we were undefeated right now. You build things, and it takes a little bit of time to not necessarily win, we should win, but to get to where your team is like these guys.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.