Short of winning a national title, there’s no way Arch Manning can match the Longhorns’ hype for 2025
On3 lists Texas as its No. 1 team in way-too-early 2025 preseason rankings because of Manning
Monday night’s national championship marks the end of the 2024 season. And it also means it’s time to crank up the hype for 2025.
Preseason predictions will be all over the place in the coming days, and most are going to have Texas in the top five. But how many will pick the Longhorns to start No. 1?
On3 wasted no time, jumped on board the hype train and named Texas its No. 1 team in the 2025 way-too-early projections. Back-to-back appearances in the College Football Playoffs semifinals are a major reason, but let’s be honest, it’s all because of Arch Manning.
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian was frustrated about the hype, anger, build-up and let-down some fans imposed on three-year starter Quinn Ewers. That’s nothing compared to the hype that will be heaped upon Manning.
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“Are we putting too much on Arch Manning when Texas will be losing four starting offensive linemen and several skill position playmakers? Maybe,” On3 analyst Andy Staples mused. “But Steve Sarkisian has shown in his time in Austin that he understands how to build and replenish a roster. Under Sark, the Texas future NFL player factory has chugged back to life following a long dormant period. Time for that assembly line to keep humming.”
Manning is no wallflower, and he’ll be ready for the spotlight when it finally arrives in full force this spring. He completed 61 of 90 passes for 939 yards with nine touchdowns and just two interceptions in 2024. Most of that came during the 2 1/2 game stretch Manning played while Ewers was out with a strained oblique injury.
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Manning also rushed for 108 yards and scored four times on the ground. His longest run of the year was the electric 67-yard touchdown against UTSA. But Manning also showed his toughness on a 15-yard touchdown run down the sideline against Texas A&M.
Short of winning a national title, there’s simply no way Manning can live up to the hype that will be thrown his way. It’ll be Sarkisian’s job to manage expectations, both from the media and the public, to keep things under control.
What about the rest of the top five? On3 pegged Ohio State to be its way-too-early preseason No. 2 team.
“The Buckeyes are losing a large portion of their roster to the NFL after this season,” On3 analyst Ari Wasserman said. “Staying, though, are arguably the two best players in the country in receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs. Even after a quarterback transition, Ohio State will be loaded.”
Oregon will be third followed by Penn State and Notre Dame. Georgia, the team that beat Texas twice in 2024, checks in at No. 6.
“Our first look at quarterback Gunner Stockton was an encouraging view of Georgia’s history, even if it came in a loss to Notre Dame. Georgia recruits monster classes and are returning offensive starters like running back Nate Frazier, receiver Dillon Bell and tight end Oscar Delp. We know Georgia’s defense is going to be nasty, too.”
