<p>The essence of controlling tunnel stability hinges on the support system's effective management of the surrounding rock pressure resulting from the excavation. Traditional support systems rely on the deformation of the surrounding rock to generate resistance, which is defined as passive support. The load distribution from the surrounding rock is heavily influenced by the stiffness of the support structures, leading to challenges in achieving a cooperative bearing relationship between anchor support and lining structure. Therefore, an innovative approach involves using anchor support to proactively apply prestress to the surrounding rock, transforming the role of the anchor support from passive to active. An active–passive cooperative control method is developed to actively manage the load distribution among support structures. Based on the concept, a mechanical model is established to analyze the bearing relationship of the active and passive supports. Through numerical simulation and field monitoring verification, except for the average stress in the spray layer, the difference rate of the support structure stress is within 25%, which can verify the rationality of the theoretical model. Through the mechanical model, the load distribution law of the surrounding rock under active–passive collaborative support is obtained. When a prestress of 100kN (approximately half of the yield load) is applied, the strength utilization rates for the anchor bolts, spray layer, and arches are 45.1%, 57.1%, and 21.0%, respectively, indicating a high level of cooperation among them. The influence mechanism of the bearing relationship of the support structures is revealed. The result can provide theoretical support for tunnel stability control and support structure design, enhancing overall safety and efficiency.</p>