- NCAA. Arch Manning's biggest weaknesses exposed as Heisman favorite shows cracks in his otherwise flawless game
- NCAA. Arch Manning's Texas Longhorns have fierce competition in NIL sphere from next door rival
Arch Manning's moment may finally be here as the 21-year-old quarterback enters the 2025/26 NCAA football season as the centerpiece of a Texas Longhorns program, and tipped to win the Heisman Trophy.
With back-to-back appearances in the College Football Playoff and a new wave of elite recruits and transfers, expectations in Austin are sky-high with the nephew of the Super Bowl-winning Peyton and Eli at the helm.
And according to an anonymous SEC assistant coach quoted in Athlon Sports' 2025 College Football Preview magazine, Texas is "stacked with talent", and Manning is expected to elevate the program even further.
"Right now, the belief is that Arch [Manning] will elevate the offense immediately," the mystery coach said to Athlon Sports. "And you can expect a much more dynamic scheme from Sark [Steve Sarkisian].
"This kid is a legit, Heisman-level package. Provided he produces at that level, the offense will be even better. They're stacked with talent."
Although Texas lost several top contributors to the NFL, including left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. and wide receiver Matthew Golden (both first-round picks), the team has retooled through the transfer portal to back up Manning.
Notable additions to the offense include tight end Jack Endries from Cal and wide receiver Emmett Mosley V from Stanford. These acquisitions offer the quarterback a new set of weapons as he prepares to take over full-time starting duties.
On the defensive side, Texas bolstered its front with Maraad Watson (Syracuse), Cole Brevard (Purdue), and Travis Shaw (North Carolina), who All-Americans Colin Simmons and Anthony Hill Jr.
Only three teams in the nation had more sacks last season than Texas, which also finished third in scoring defense thus underscoring the potential the team has on both sides of the football field.
"They could have one of the best defensive lines in the entire country," the assistant added. "They have next-level rushers and the size and physicality to win against the run.
"This program is one of the most effectively run in of personnel, NIL and the new era of the sport.
"If Manning blows up and goes to the league next year, this is still the program to chase. They're professionalizing in a way other programs aren't."
Manning faces in-house rival for Heisman honors
Despite the attention surrounding Arch Manning, Texas has another potential Heisman candidate on the roster in the form of the Longhorns' own running back, Tre Wisner.
He filled in for an injured CJ Baxter in the 2024/25 NCAA season and impressively rushed for 1,064 yards and five touchdowns. So the college football analyst, Michael Bratton, even names him as thier Heisman "sleeper."
The team opens their campaign against the Ohio State Buckeyes, the defending champions and all eyes are on what the team can offer up. Can they rise ot the challenge?