Kirk Herbstreit makes his expectations for Texas QB Arch Manning clear

There was a significant chunk of the college football world that thought Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning was going to dominate heading into the 2025 season.

What Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza did with the Indiana Hoosiers, many "in the know" expected out of Manning. Perhaps it was because he was the former consensus No. 1 overall recruit in the country. Or perhaps it was just because of his famous last name.

Either way, Manning wasn't terrible in 2025, but he did have some serious moments of struggle. Rather than looking dominant in his first year as the starter at Texas, he looked like a quarterback who needed time to figure it out.

It was an up-and-down campaign, but those growing pains are why ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit believes Manning will be "the guy" in 2026.

“He lived it, he experienced it, he survived it,” Herbstreit said of Manning on On3's "Crain and Cone" podcast. “I’ll be shocked, when the dust settles, if he’s not the guy in the class.”

Arch Manning is among the top college football quarterbacks heading into 2026

Manning will have some stiff competition when it comes to the chase to be the top quarterback in college football in 2026. 

Ohio State's Julian Sayin was a Heisman Trophy finalist this past season, and Oregon's Dante Moore was right on the outside looking in at that elite group of players.

Drew Mestemaker has a chance to put up some wild numbers after he followed head coach Eric Morris to Oklahoma State. It's also going to be really interesting to see what Sam Leavitt can do with LSU and what Darian Mensah can do now that he's left Duke and is officially with Miami.

Manning, without a doubt, has high-level talent as both a passer and a runner. He also, of course, has the pedigree.

Manning threw for 3,163 yards and 26 touchdowns compared to seven interceptions this past season, while also rushing for 399 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Can he put it all together in 2026 and become the best of the best? Herbstreit is certainly counting on it.