After two seasons on the sidelines, it's finally Arch Manning's time to shine in Austin. The star quarterback takes the reins from Quinn Ewers, who declared for the NFL Draft, and the expectations couldn't be higher. Manning carries the weight of his last name, the Longhorns' yearly national championship aspirations, and his status as the early Heisman Trophy favorite. All eyes will be on him this season.
BetMGM currently lists Manning at +800 to win college football’s most prestigious award, just ahead of LSU’s returning quarterback Grant Nussmeier at +850.
Manning's game experience has been limited, but he’s shown flashes of promise. He served as a utility player in spot situations and started two games while Ewers was sidelined with injuries. In those starts, Manning threw for 583 yards, four touchdowns, and just two interceptions.
If Manning is going to join the ranks of recent Heisman-winning quarterbacks like Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams, he'll need to deliver some serious numbers. Daniels tallied 3,812 passing yards, 40 passing touchdowns, and just four interceptions, while also rushing for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns. Williams threw for 4,537 yards and 42 touchdowns with only five interceptions. Fortunately for Manning, Texas has a stacked roster, returning several key players from last year’s College Football Playoff semifinal squad.
The Heisman race is shaping up to be highly competitive, with veteran quarterbacks like Clemson's Cade Klubnik (+1100) and Penn State's Drew Allar (+1300) both returning after leading their teams to Playoff berths. Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (+1200) is also a serious contender after Travis Hunter proved a receiver can take home the trophy last season. The spotlight may be on Manning, but the race for college football's top honor is far from a one-man show.
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