The pressure is on Arch Manning heading into the 2025 NCAA season. Expectations are high surrounding the Texas Longhorns star as he begins his first full season as the team’s starting quarterback. Can Peyton and Eli Manning’s nephew live up to the hype and deliver a national championship to the Longhorns?
Texas Longhorns Season Preview: Can QB Arch Manning Live Up to the Hype?
The time has finally arrived for Arch Manning to handle the keys to Texas’ offense. Fans have been clamoring for the wunderkind to start for the Longhorns ever since he signed with the team in 2022, and they are finally getting their wish this year.
This isn’t the first time Manning will start a game for Texas, though, as he filled that role last year in Quinn Ewers’ absence. He started two games for the Longhorns in 2024 after Ewers got injured, leading Texas to victories over Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State.
In his first career start, Manning threw for 258 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions in the Longhorns’ 51-3 win against the Warhawks. He fared even better in his next start against Mississippi State, completing 26-of-31 passes for 325 yards and two touchdowns in Texas’ 35-13 win.
ARCH MANNING 49-YARD TOUCHDOWN TO DEANDRE MOORE JR. 🔥
STOOD IN THE POCKET AND DELIVERED A DART 🎯 pic.twitter.com/TaTNIteEIs
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 28, 2024
Manning returned to the bench after that win over the Bulldogs, but his performances as a starter were enough to send the hype train into overdrive. He made a total of 10 appearances for the Longhorns last season, amassing 939 passing yards and nine touchdowns, with two interceptions. Manning also showed that he is a dual threat, running for 108 yards and four scores.
The SEC runs in Manning’s blood, as his famous relatives played in this power conference. His grandfather, Archie Manning, was the starting quarterback for the Ole Miss Rebels. His Super Bowl-winning uncles, Peyton and Eli, played for Tennessee and Ole Miss, respectively. Now it’s the Texas star’s turn to shine in the SEC.
Arch Manning’s Offensive Weapons at Texas
Arch Manning can’t do it all alone, though, and he needs the help of his teammates to lead Texas to the promised land. Head coach Steve Sarkisian noted at SEC Media Days that Manning has already gained the respect of the Texas locker room because of his humility and work ethic.
“He doesn’t think he’s more than he is,” Sarkisian said. “Doesn’t walk around pointing at the name on the back of his jersey. He’s just an easygoing guy. He’s very relatable. He’s a good teammate with a really good sense of humor that works extremely hard. And he works extremely hard because he wants to be really good. He’s not doing it for anybody else.”
The Longhorns have provided Manning with plenty of offensive weapons this coming season. Quintrevion Wisner will lead Texas’ running backs crew that also features C.J. Baxter and Jerrick Gibson. Wisner powered the Longhorns’ ground game last season, amassing 1,064 rushing yards and five scores.
The Longhorns may have lost wide receiver Matthew Golden to the NFL, but Manning still has DeAndre Moore Jr., Ryan Wingo, and incoming freshman Kaliq Lockett to target next season. Moore showed what he is capable of in the SEC Championship Game against Georgia, catching nine passes for 114 yards and a touchdown.
Ohio State Test for Arch Manning in Week 1
Manning and the Longhorns will be immediately tested as they will face the reigning national champions, the Ohio State Buckeyes, in their season opener. It will be a baptism of fire for Manning, who will be jeered by more than 100,000 Ohio State fans inside Ohio Stadium.
Deliver a win for Texas in Week 1, and the Heisman talk for Manning will already be churning. Critics will be out for blood, though, if he produces a poor performance on the road against the Buckeyes. August 30 can’t come soon enough for Manning and Texas fans.
KEEP READING: Arch Manning Gets Nod Of Approval From 2x SB-Winning Uncle Eli Manning amid SEC Media Day Buzz
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