Arch Manning is heading into the 2025 college football season with the highest expectations imaginable. As the most hyped recruit in recent memory, Manning now stands at the centre of national attention as he finally takes over as the starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns. For Texas fans, this is supposed to be the year, his year. For NFL scouts, it’s the beginning of what could be the rise of a future franchise saviour. But with that hope comes a nearly impossible standard.
After spending two years behind Quinn Ewers, Manning now enters the season as the betting favourite to win the Heisman Trophy. He’s also leading a team that’s currently a co-favourite to win the national championship and is widely expected to be ranked No. 1 in the preseason. Yet, as ESPN’s Bill Connelly noted, he’s attempted only 108 dropbacks in live college football action so far. That limited experience now gives way to one of the most high-stakes quarterback campaigns in years.
The Longhorns have made back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances but fell short in the semifinals both times. This year, with Ewers gone and Manning stepping into the spotlight, fans and analysts are expecting Texas to break through finally. The problem is that being merely good, or even very good, might not be enough. According to Connelly, Texas’s offensive and defensive lines are still in a rebuilding phase, and the receiving corps is full of unproven talent. If Manning doesn’t elevate the entire program, those weaknesses could surface and stall Texas’ title hopes yet again.
Manning doesn’t have the luxury of developing slowly. He has to be elite from the start. If he falters or plays below the high bar that’s been set for him since high school, the ripple effect could impact Texas’s entire season and the broader college football landscape. The pressure on him isn’t just about wins and losses, it’s about proving that all the patience, promotion, and projections were worth it. This is more than just a debut season. For Arch Manning, it’s the defining moment of his career.