Quinn Ewers has successfully passed the torch to Arch Manning after he declared for the NFL Draft. So now Manning with most likely be the starting quarterback for the Longhorns for the 2025 season and possibly the one after that too if he doesn’t go pro. But if the QB decides to enter the NFL Draft post the 2025 season, teams would be prepared to snatch him up.

In fact, former Giants player Victor Cruz stated in December, “I think we should get one of those veteran guys in free agency, build our roster for another year, be competitive the next year and then go all in on Arch Manning the next year after that.” But hey, let us not get too ahead of ourselves. Before Manning can even think about the pro league, he already has some tough scenarios to tackle in Texas. Despite the starting gig, Manning won’t get an edge like Ewers. Blame the depth chart of a rebounded Texas Longhorns in 2025.

Here’s the thing: Quinn Ewers has left the party for good. He had capped off the season with 3,472 yards and 31 touchdowns thrown compared to 12 interceptions. For Manning, these numbers will be tough to replace, not just because Ewers was so good but also because an entire era of the Longhorns has walked away from Texas, leaving Manning to cope with the newbies.

“Now the Texas team next year is going to be led by quarterback Arch Manning… This will be Arch-standing, but he’s losing Jaydon Blue (running back), WRs Matthew Golden and Isaiah Bond, tight end Gunnar Helm, left tackle Kelvin Banks, right tackle Cameron Williams, Center Jake Majors, left guard Hayden Conner,” said Locked on podcast host Chris Gordy.

In the modern college football era, it’s not foreign to experiment with the QB room or the entire roster after a regular season, but it invites excitement and fear of the unknown. Manning is no doubt an A-lister, but in this case, he also needs some solid veteran support to rely on. His playing style sometimes gets a bit reckless, so that needs to be taken care of.

Scouting through that possibility, Gordy divulged the reality: ”Arch’s team going to look a little different, kind of looking at their depth chart, kind of highlighting some of the pieces that are moving on… So the guy over at Tunnel Texas kind of put out an expectation of a rough projected depth chart of what Texas’s team could look like next year.”

But here’s the thing: They lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium after making mistakes and bad plays. Much of the blame also goes to the head coach. Steve Sarkisian’s red zone play calling in the final quarter left fans and analysts confused. One can only hope that such woes don’t continue during Manning’s time as the starting QB.

If Steve Sarkisian tries to add a veteran QB on the transfer portal, 2025 can be off to a good start, but even if he doesn’t and Arch Manning has to take all on his own, Texas quarterbacking legend Colt McCoy believes he won’t back off!

NFL biggie showcases huge confidence in Arch Manning!

Arch Manning showcased every sign of shining as QB1. He didn’t get much chance to throw himself out there and prove his skills, but the little he got was enough for him to let the world know what a rare breed of a beast he was.

NFL legend McCoy, like many in the industry, was simply in awe of how Manning dished glimpses of his caliber in one or two games in the season. However, he thinks the QB should just take note of a few details to ace the heavy-pressure situation.

“Arch is walking into a great opportunity,” McCoy stated on Underdog’s ‘Clean Pocket’ podcast. “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Go out there and be you. Play to your strengths. We’re all different as quarterbacks. We all have an edge somehow. If Arch is smart, he’ll figure out his edge.”

“He knows he can move, is athletic and can throw a great deep ball. He needs to sit down with [quarterbacks coach] AJ Milwee and Sark [head coach Steve Sarkisian] and figure out the things he loves.”

Manning has an esteemed bloodline to look back to. Uncle Eli and Peyton combined to win four Super Bowls during their NFL heyday.

McCoy also asked Manning to just remember his roots and feel the chip on his shoulder of Texas not getting ahead of the final for the last two years. Stars and the collective wishes and prayers will do the rest for the blueblood.