

With his first full season as Texas’ starting quarterback on the horizon, Arch Manning is not only preparing to lead the Longhorns on the field – he’s also building relationships elsewhere within the university’s athletic program.
While head coach Steve Sarkisian remains Manning’s primary mentor in football, the young quarterback has taken a surprising interest in another new leader on campus: Sean Miller, the recently hired head coach of the Texas men’s basketball team. And it didn’t take long for the two to connect.
Appearing on USA TODAY’s Field of 68 show, Miller detailed one of his first encounters with Manning shortly after arriving in Austin. It was a simple, yet telling moment of mutual respect between two major figures within the university’s athletic department.
“‘Welcome to Texas, I’m a big basketball fan,'” Manning said to Miller. He then added, “‘Hey, do you mind if, once in a while, we sneak in and play pickup?'”
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The Moody Center, Texas’ modern basketball facility, sits just across the street from Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, where Manning will lead the Longhorns into their new SEC chapter this fall.
That proximity has helped foster casual, friendly interactions between athletes and coaches, but Manning’s outreach stood out – especially given the high expectations he faces this season.
Manning‘s request to shoot hoops reflects not only his love for basketball but his willingness to engage with other parts of the campus community. His comfort around the program is a testament to the culture Texas is cultivating – one where stars aren’t siloed, and support flows both ways.
Though he has just two starts under his belt – a pair of appearances against Louisiana Monroe and Mississippi State – Manning has quickly become a central figure in Austin.
And as he prepares for his debut as the full-time starter in Week 1 against Ohio State, he’s also proving to be a unifying presence among Longhorn athletes.
Meanwhile, Sean Miller has wasted no time making a mark of his own. Hired in March, the veteran coach has already assembled the top-ranked transfer class in the country, landing five four-star players and signaling that Texas basketball intends to contend immediately under his leadership.
While Miller has yet to coach a game in burnt orange, his connection with Manning adds an early off-court win – and it reflects a broader effort to build synergy across Texas’ athletic programs.
The football program will take center stage on August 30, when Manning leads Texas into a high-stakes season opener against the Buckeyes.
On the hardwood, the Longhorns are reportedly finalizing a marquee non-conference clash with Duke, another sign of rising expectations in the post-Chris Beard era.
As both teams chase championships, it’s clear that Arch Manning and Sean Miller are helping lead the way – not just through their own work, but through an evolving culture of connection, respect, and unity on campus.
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