Texas has made some nice offensive additions through the transfer portal, which might have played a hand in why Arch Manning is leading pre-season Heisman odds for the second straight time.
According to the latest odds released by FanDuel, Manning and Notre Dame’s CJ Carr both sit atop the early board with +800 Heisman odds heading into next season.
| Player | Odds |
| Arch Manning | 800 |
| CJ Carr | 800 |
| Jeremiah Smith Jr. | 1,000 |
| Julian Sayin | 1,000 |
| Gunner Stockton | 1,300 |
| Josh Hoover | 1,300 |
| Sam Leavitt | 1,300 |
| Marcel Reed | 1,600 |
| Jayden Maiava | 1,700 |
| Dylan Raiola | 1,700 |
| Brendan Sorsby | 2,000 |
| LaNorris Sellers | 2,500 |
| Malachi Toney | 2,500 |
| Demond Williams Jr. | 3,000 |
| Bryce Underwood | 3,000 |
| Devon Dampier | 3,500 |
| Byrum Brown | 3,500 |
| Kevin Jennings | 4,500 |
Before the 2025 season as well, Manning was the preseason Heisman odds leader with +600. However, those odds didn’t prove to be correct, as the Heisman Trophy was bagged by Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza while Manning was not even selected as a finalist.
Even though Manning didn’t start the season well, by the end he had many convinced that he has what it takes to lead Texas to the NCAA championship. In 2025, Manning led Texas to a 9-3 season, completing 61.4% of his passes for 3,163 yards with 26 touchdowns against seven interceptions. He also rushed for 399 yards and 10 touchdowns on 92 carries.
Manning could face strong competition from Notre Dame’s CJ Carr, who passed for 2,741 yards, 27 total touchdowns, and six interceptions in his freshman season. Ohio State’s Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith also finds themselves in this list just like last season.
What Transfer Portal Additions Texas Made For Arch Manning?
The Texas Longhorns are not taking the 2026 season lightly as they are making sure that they give Arch Manning enough weapons to lead them to the national championship, since this could also be his final season in college football.
Steve Sarkisian managed to receive the commitment of the No. 1 receiver in the portal as Texas added Cam Coleman from Auburn. Running back Daylan “Hollywood” Smothers is another great addition. He has played for the Oklahoma Sooners and NC State Wolfpack. Another talented running back from Arizona State, Raleek Brown, has joined Texas’ high-powered offense.
Manning’s chances of winning this Heisman award will largely depend on how well he runs the Longhorns offense and if he can help them make the playoffs.
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