Joel Klatt Makes Arch Manning Admission Before Season Opener

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Grant Bricker | Last updated Jun 23, 2025 8:30 PM ET

Arch Manning is primed to finally start at quarterback for the Texas Longhorns after two years of backing up Quinn Ewers.

Manning's first test as the starter will be against the Ohio State Buckeyes, who are fresh off winning the national championship.

On a recent edition of "The Joel Klatt Show," Joel Klatt emphasized that Manning now holds the keys to the Texas offense and program as a whole, declaring the season opener as the first actual start of the "Arch era."

Despite starting in two games last year, Klatt argued that 2025 was different, considering Manning was not the full-time starter.

"Rematch of the College Football Playoff semifinal," Klatt said. "Sark is gonna take his team up to the shoe and face the defending national champions, the Ohio State Buckeyes. The first start in the Arch era. Now, I know that Arch has started before, but the first start of the Arch era. This is now his team. This is his program."

Manning came in for Ewers after the Texas star suffered an oblique injury, which happened during the win over the Michigan Wolverines in Week 2.

Ewers played in the following game versus UTSA but was forced to exit. Manning came in and delivered 223 passing yards, 53 rushing yards and five total touchdowns.

Manning then led Texas to wins over UL Monroe and the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Klatt is high on Manning and head coach Steve Sarkisian. In a recent episode, Klatt placed Sarkisian inside his top five head coaches in the country.

Klatt ranked the top quarterbacks in the country heading into 2025, with Manning at No. 2, behind Clemson Tigers star Cade Klubnik.

The Manning era officially begins on August 30, as Texas takes on Ohio State at Noon ET on Fox.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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