Arch Manning and Nico Iamaleava entered the 2025 season with vastly different storylines. One is the heir to a football dynasty, the other a transfer trying to prove he was worth the hype. For Manning at Texas, every dropback feels like a major burden. On the other hand, Nico Iamaleava might’ve traded Knoxville for sunshine, but UCLA’s offensive line has given him anything but comfort. Because of this shared and painful weakness, both now share a record no quarterback wants attached to their name.

“Breaking News: Kyron Drones is no longer the most pressured quarterback in America,” Virginia Tech Hokies writer, Doug Bowman, posted on X. “Congrats to Arch Manning and Nico Iamaleava (115 pressured dropbacks) on this prestigious honor. Drones fall to T-3 at 113.” 

Before Manning and Iamaleava’s collapse, Virginia Tech’s Kyron Drones had been the most pressured quarterback in the country. Despite producing 1,516 yards, 14 touchdowns, and six interceptions, Drones’ efficiency was buried under relentless defensive heat. Even in the Hokies’ 42-35 win over Cal, the pressure was visible. Drones was sacked three times and forced into hurried reads. But analysts credit Virginia Tech for adjusting its offensive identity, shifting toward a run-heavy and play-action system that limited pure dropbacks and eased stress on the offensive line.

Now, this is a clear sign of how Arch and Nico have been swallowed by protection breakdowns and poor offensive line play. In Texas, Arch Manning’s struggles go far beyond his own reads or mechanics. The Longhorns’ offensive line, one of the youngest in the SEC, has been overwhelmed week after week. Faster, stronger SEC defenses have been bullying the rebuilt unit after it lost four starters from last year’s lineup. They gave up pressure on nearly 41% of Manning’s drop-backs. That is the worst in the SEC and 124th in the nation. What’s worse, Texas can’t run the ball to ease the pressure. The Longhorns rank outside the top 100 in rushing yards before contact.

Against Florida, things hit a new low. Manning was sacked six times and pressured on nearly 60% of his dropbacks. It’s the highest single-game pressure rate any SEC quarterback has faced this season. On top of that, the running game is a mess. With key running backs Quintrevion Wisner and CJ Baxter sidelined, Manning has been forced to account for nearly one-fifth of Texas’s rushing yards himself. Now, that’s an unsustainable load for a pocket passer still adjusting to SEC speed. On the other side of the country, Nico Iamaleava’s situation hasn’t been any better. The reason both quarterbacks now sit atop college football’s most pressured list.

UCLA’s 43-10 collapse against Utah showcased a familiar nightmare. Iamaleava got sacked four times for a loss of 28 yards and went 11-for-22 with 136 yards, a touchdown, and a pick. UCLA’s first two drives fizzled out on a 4th-and-1 and another after a 13-yard sack that helped Utah jump to a 20-0 lead. The Bruins ended the half punting on their final drive. The Maryland game is a glaring example. Iamaleava threw two picks and fumbled on a sack that the Terps recovered. Then, late in the fourth, another sack injured Iamaleava’s knee, and the staff had to help him off the field. Even before this, defenses sacked Iamaleava 28 times last season.

Texas fans don’t really want Arch Manning

It’s safe to say that Texas fans are officially losing their patience with Arch Manning. The recent Mississippi game blunders brought all the more trouble for Arch Manning. The clip that broke the fans’ backs came on a key 3rd and 2 play, deep in Texas territory. Manning ran a read-option and had receiver Emmett Mosley wide open, but instead of delivering the ball, the throw went wild.

That led to Mississippi State flipping field position and driving down to crush Texas’s momentum. In four of his last six starts, he hasn’t cracked 200 passing yards. It was a major red flag for a team that was once ranked No. 1 nationally. Like the Kentucky game, for instance. Manning had 12 completions on 27 attempts, 132 yards, and no touchdowns. It’s pretty obvious for fans to fume about the so-called Manning legacy.

The defense has been the only thing keeping Texas from a full collapse, repeatedly bailing out an offense stuck in neutral. But that can’t last forever. Arch Manning’s completion rate sits at just 57.4%, and frustration among fans is starting to boil over. One asked bluntly, “At what point do we recognize Arch isn’t working and actually try to save our season?”

Still, the blame doesn’t rest solely on Manning. The run game has been lifeless, forcing the offense to rely almost entirely on his arm. Until Texas finds balance and protection up front, the pressure will keep mounting. The sooner those issues get fixed, the easier it’ll be for Manning to find his rhythm under center.