Justified or not, Arch Manning is a big reason why the Texas Longhorns are your preseason No. 1 team in the country
Despite the lack of major experience as a starter, the Texas Longhorns are a national title threat because of its star quarterback.
Texas quarterback Arch Manning has patiently waited his turn. And now in 2025, it is time for him to take the first snap under center August 30. The Longhorns travel to Columbus, Ohio to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in what could potentially be a No. 1 vs No. 2 matchup to kickoff the college football season.
The College Football Playoff semifinal rematch will give everyone its first glimpse at the former five-star prospect as Texas’ starting quarterback. And despite replacing four starters up front on the offensive line, optimism is through the roof for Manning and the Texas offense.
Let’s take a look at why the Longhorns are worthy of a preseason No. 1 overall ranking.
Often unnoticed, Manning’s athleticism and pocket presence make him wise beyond his years. This was put on display in 2024 several times when he entered the game in short yardage or when Quinn Ewers was injured. Manning ran it 25 times for 108 yards and four scores last season. This mobility paired with his ability to maintain composure while facing a pass rush makes for an easy transition from Ewers for Longhorn fans. Sure, the limited experience as a starter is a concern in the SEC, but if anyone is prepared for the bright lights, it’s Arch Manning.
The maturation in such a short time in Austin, Tex., is another cause for excitement with Arch Manning under center.
He learned under Ewers and was not pressed to be a focal point in the offense. Furthermore, the trust he has built with head coach Steve Sarkisian is paramount for another CFP run this year.
“Arch is a really good deep-ball thrower and gives guys chances to go make plays on those shots down the field,” Sarkisian said in an interview last fall. “But … I’m kind of kicking myself a little. I wish I had a few other freebie completions for him just so that there could have been a little bit more balance and getting that completion percentage up, being efficient and moving the chains.”
The trust from Sarkisian has been cultivated over time. Not only because of the raw talent, but Manning was beaming with confidence whenever his number was called in 2024. Pro Football Focus’ Nick Akridge was thoroughly impressed with his ability to process quickly.
“He was not afraid to test defenses and stretch the field. Young quarterbacks often come in and take their first open look. Manning, however, displayed an ability to look off an open receiver to make a better throw,” Akridge said. “It wasn’t just deep balls and RPOs, either. He was making second-level throws between zones, which, again, isn’t something you typically see from young college quarterbacks.
“How a quarterback operates from a clean pocket is a great way to evaluate how they process information and make decisions, and Manning earned an elite 91.3 clean-pocket PFF passing grade, which would have ranked 12th in the FBS had he qualified.”
If you want to be critical of Arch Manning’s small sample size from last year, his accuracy was up-and-down.
Per PFF, his accuracy percentage was just 56.3 percent. This ranked him 132nd in the country. Furthermore, when facing pressure, he graded out at 49.9 in 2024. This statistic should drastically improve as he will receive all the first-team reps in fall camp.
The good news for Texas fans is the 6-foot-4, 216 pound prospect has learned a ton under Ewers and is chomping at the bit to take over the offense. The name cachet makes the 2025 season a big one for the Longhorns. But, look for Arch to make a name for himself with his play, surrounded by a revamped wide receiver room. DeAndre Moore Jr., and Ryan Wingo lead the charge along with Stanford transfer Emmett Mosley V.
Mosley finished 2024 with 48 receptions for 525 yards and six touchdowns as a freshman. Fellow transfer Jack Endries will do his best to fill the giant shoes left by record-setting tight end Gunnar Helm. The former Cal Bear had 56 catches for 623 yards last season.
I expect Sarkisian to lean on the run game early with a lot of new faces up front on the offensive line and a new quarterback under center. Texas boasts one of the best in the Southeastern Conference in Quintrevion Wisner. Last year, he emerged as a go-to option for the Longhorns, running for 1,064 yards while also tacking on 44 receptions and 311 yards.
Former five-star signee, CJ Baxter, is recovering from knee surgery but was a weapon as a freshman. Prior to the injury in fall camp last year, 6-foot-1, 232-pounder ran for 138 yards and five touchdowns.
Manning is already viewed as one of the best quarterbacks in the country heading into the 2025 season. The hype is real as he takes over the keys to the offense. The early preseason polls reflect this as Texas is at or near the top as the season draws closer and closer.
