Why one rival defensive coordinator is rooting for Texas QB Arch Manning

It can't be said that Arch Manning has crumbled under the pressure of his last name and the expectations that come along with it.

Has Manning always been perfect for the Texas Longhorns? 

No, not even close. As the consensus No. 1 overall recruit in the 2023 class and considering his bloodline, there were expectations that he'd be one of the greatest to ever do it.

That hasn't been the case in Austin, but Manning has dealt with the pressure, the disappointments and the highs and lows of being a football player at Texas with grace and poise.

There have been no scandals. No bad words have been uttered about him.

On the contrary, he's slowly but surely grown into a leadership role for the Longhorns.

From a coach's perspective, you can't ask for more out of your quarterback. Manning has been so poised, in fact, that an anonymous SEC defensive coordinator from another school recently told Adam Rittenberg of ESPN that he's rooting for the Texas quarterback.

"He's handled this situation better than anybody could possibly do," that coach said. "The expectations aren't fair, so personally, I hope he has a great year. Hopefully, he has an off game against us."

Arch Manning and Texas Longhorns can be really good in 2026 

It's not just about leadership. Manning has the pro-style frame at 6-foot-4, 222 pounds, but he's also an incredible athlete. He's able to take off and run and do some real damage with his legs, and that's something that neither of his famous uncles, Peyton Manning or Eli Manning, could say about their games.

Alongside throwing for 3,163 yards and 26 touchdowns (seven interceptions) last season, he rushed for 399 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Longhorns.

At the end of the day, Manning, true to his name, is a quarterback, though, and he's got all the arm talent to be great.

"He can absolutely rip it, like velocity, accuracy," another SEC defensive coordinator said. 

Manning also heads into 2026 with a one-two combination at wideout that could also help him ascend to greatness. 

Cam Coleman transferred from Auburn after putting up 1,306 yards and 13 touchdowns over the past two seasons for the Tigers. The Longhorns are also returning Ryan Wingo, who has caught 1,306 yards and nine touchdowns over the past two seasons.

"It's going to be really easy this year, because people are gonna have to double Cam Coleman. He's a real one, and so is [Ryan] Wingo, so it's like, you can't double both of them," said the anonymous defensive coordinator of Texas' wideout arsenal.