Not everyone is on the Arch Manning–Texas Longhorns hype train ahead of the 2025 NCAA season as ESPN doubts the 19-year-old quarterback has what it takes to take over the scene.
The youngster, who is the nephew or Eli and Peyton Manning, produced impressive numbers in limited appearances behind Quinn Ewers by making 939 yards for nine touchdowns from just 90 passing attempts.
He will now inherit the starter role and fans are buzzing with excitement to see what the teenager can do at the Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium when the next college football season begins, with NFL scouts and organizations watching on.
But according to ESPN, there could be an astonishing 11 quarterbacks outperforming Manning in 2025 and even some coaches aren’t too convinced, although the coach wasn’t brave enough to go public.
“He’s an elite athlete,” the anonymous coach told ESPN. “He’s still a first-time starter, so people need to give him a little bit of time.”
Is the anonymous coach right?
The coach offers wise words. Manning is under a lot of pressure due to the sheer amount of attention on him, with every misstep, interception and sack set to be scrutinised as much, if not more, than every deep touchdown throw.
And that’s a lot for any QB to handle, but especially one in his first full season in college football as a starter so perhaps it is wise to take one foot off the hype train with potential struggles abound. However, if anyone has the circle to handle it, it’s Arch Manning.
Whilst his surname along will no doubt have meant he faced the nepotism question, the ability to turn to Eli (two-time champion and Super Bowl MVP) and Peyton (two-time champion, 2007 Super Bowl MVP and five-time NFL MVP) will be invaluable.
Combined, the two senior heads have played 502 NFL games and link up for a ridiculous 128,600 passing yards for 905 touchdowns from 17,499 attempts across 32 years.
To say they know the ropes is a disservice to their legacies, something Arch will no doubt find tons of advice in as he embarks on his own quest to make it to the professional scene.
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