Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning. Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

New preseason poll increases pressure on Texas QB Arch Manning

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Aug 4, 2025 4:11 PM ET

Expectations were already high enough for Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning heading into the 2025 season.

Longhorn fans hope the 21-year-old leads the program to its first national championship since the 2005 season. A new preseason poll puts even more pressure on Manning.

On Monday, USA Today published the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll. (The Associated Press preseason poll's release is scheduled Aug. 11.) Texas ranked No. 1, claiming 28 of the 67 first-place votes. The Ohio State Buckeyes were No. 2, while the Penn State Nittany Lions were No. 3. It's the first time the Longhorns have been No. 1 in the preseason poll.

Oddsmakers agree with coaches. As of Monday, FanDuel Sportsbook lists Texas as the preseason national title favorite (+550), ahead of Ohio State and the Georgia Bulldogs.

Manning has attempted just 95 passes in two seasons with the Longhorns, but his flashes have been impressive. He had five touchdowns (four passing and one rushing) after replacing Quinn Ewers in a 56-7 Week 3 win over UTSA last season.

Right on the @ArchManning @_Ryanwingo1 pic.twitter.com/RJYX9ku3At
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) September 15, 2024

Texas, however, lost many players to the NFL this offseason, including wide receiver Matthew Golden and offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. The WR led the Longhorns in touchdown catches last season (nine in 16 games), while the O-lineman earned a first-team All-American nod.

With key departures, Manning may need to improvise more frequently. That could prove difficult in the Longhorns' season opener against the Buckeyes on Aug. 30 on the road. Texas, of course, lost to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff semifinal last season.

The defending national champions' stacked defense includes safety Caleb Downs. Tankathon rates him as the No. 1 prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft on its updated big board.

Despite the pressure, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian has plenty of confidence in the young QB.

"He's a great guy. He's a great teammate," the coach said at SEC media days July 15. "We've got to do a great job of supporting him, as coaches, as players, and ultimately, I think, he's prepared for the moment."

If Manning fulfills the hype, that would help him add to his family legacy. His uncles, Peyton and Eli, combined for four Super Bowls during their NFL careers. However, neither of them, nor Arch's grandfather, Archie, won a national championship.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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