There's a lot of hype surrounding Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning as he heads into his redshirt sophomore season. Though this time, unlike last year, Manning enters the season as the projected starting quarterback in Texas now that Quinn Ewers has graduated to the NFL.
Thus, it's a big year for the son of Cooper and grandson of Archie. With one strong season, he could feasibly enter his name in the 2026 NFL Draft. While many doubt Arch would leave college without gaining more experience than the two games, plus however many he starts this season, anything is possible in today's football landscape. That's especially true for a player of his caliber.
So, just how good is this generation's Manning? According to ESPN's college football analyst Paul Finebaum , Manning is the "best college football quarterback we have seen since Tim Tebow entered the scene in 2006."
"Arch Manning is the best college football quarterback we have seen since Tim Tebow entered the scene in 2006."
— @finebaum on Arch Manning 👀 pic.twitter.com/vTm9buTfKX— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) July 1, 2025
Really? Not even Trevor Lawrence ? Joe Burrow ? Caleb Williams ? The point is, there have been several quarterbacks selected first overall since 2006. Heck, even Tim Tebow slipped to the 25th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.
Essentially, that means Arch's college career could lead him anywhere. Though, the early insight is that he's on track to become a first-round pick. Anything less would be a disappointment for a Manning.
Related: Heisman Trophy winners: From 1935-2023, the history of the Heisman
Related Headlines
