Are Steve Sarkisian’s Texas Longhorns pure hype? Ex-player Steve Spurrier seems to think so. The former Florida Gators coach disagrees with the assessment that Texas is the favorite to rule the SEC in 2025.
While fans see them as the favorites, and analysts and bookies seem to agree that Arch Manning is likely to win the Heisman Trophy, Spurrier recently came up with a question. Speaking on Monday’s episode of “Another Dooley Noted Podcast,” he said:
“People picking Texas to win the SEC in football. They’ve got Arch Manning already winning the Heisman, too. And my question is, if he was this good, how come that they let Quinn Ewers play all the time last year? “
The reflection is a valid one, considering that Arch Manning has started only two games in his entire college career and spent two seasons as Quinn Ewers’ backup. How much would he have improved since 2024? If he was already so good last year, why didn’t he take over starting duties when Ewers went down with an injury mid-season?
Nonetheless, bookies disagree with Spurrier. ESPN Bet has the Texas Longhorns tied with Ohio State, both with odds of +500, as the favorites to win the national title this season. No other program has better odds.
Oddsmakers apparently believe that Arch Manning will be a key piece of any Texas national championship-winning campaign in 2025, as he has the best odds to win the Heisman Trophy (+650 according to BetMGM).
Texas’ Steve Sarkisian’s message to the Longhorns fandom regarding Arch Manning
The first person who wants to manage expectations is Steve Sarkisian. He knows better than anyone how much pressure the signal-caller is under to perform this year, except perhaps for Arch Manning himself.
For two seasons now, Sarkisian has had to deal with having a celebrity quarterback on the bench. Now, the coach has to manage the unrealistic expectations set before him, as Manning steps into the limelight. However, he wants everyone to stay calm and allow the 21-year-old to play at his best, and that’s exactly what he asked of fans in late April:
“Arch is a great player, but I hope for everybody here that we don’t get too far ahead of ourselves,” Sarkisian said during a press conference on April 28. “Let’s let this guy go play this year. Let’s let him have fun in finally getting his opportunity as the starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns. It’s been a lifelong dream for this guy to do this.”
“I know some of you have seen the videos of him as a kid wearing the Longhorn jersey and talking about playing for Texas; its finally his time and I hope he can just have the opportunity to enjoy it and enjoy it the right way,” he added.
Last season, Arch Manning started in two games (against Louisiana Monroe and Mississippi State) and played the entirety of the second half of one (against UTSA) due to an injury suffered by Quinn Ewers. In those appearances, and other briefer ones, Manning recorded 939 passing yards, nine touchdown passes, and two interceptions for a QBR of 87.5. He also ran 108 yards on 25 carries and scored four rushing touchdowns.
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