As the Arch Manning era dawns for Texas, questions start to mount over his highly touted future as the starting QB for the Longhorns. When Texas opens the 2025 season on Aug. 30 at Ohio State, Manning is expected to be under center. But the real question: how is it going to be over? Will it conclude with the same unparalleled impact or with a significantly more subdued tone? That will entirely depend on how the blueblood athlete manages the immense pressure of his last name and ultimately delivers. Can he be the trailblazer of a new Texas era or just another overhyped figure in the burnt orange jersey?

Manning didn’t earn his top-tier fame in that sense. Obviously, he didn’t get that chance as well, but all of the buzzes surrounding the 6 ft 4 QB are mostly because of his highly esteemed bloodline. The young QB has grown up under the wide-awake, watchful eyes of their grandfather, NFL legend Archie Manning, and uncles, Super Bowl MVPs Eli Manning and Peyton Manning. His talent, athleticism, and incredible football instinct quickly made him a catch for the teams.

On his part, Arch has excelled at every level he’s played at. He threw for 2,448 yards and 33 touchdowns and rushed for 366 yards and 9 touchdowns in his junior year. Coming to his dream school, the poster boy of Texas had to operate under the shadow of Quinn Ewers for over two years. But he stepped up exactly when it was needed. But the analyst panel still thinks he has to justify the hype more in 2025, and the benchmark is pretty high.

”There’s so much hype around Arch where I almost wonder, like, what does he have to do to say yes like everything about this guy is correct as far as what folks projected him to do with Texas,” Zac Blackerby asked during the Locked-on Aggies episode of 14th February. The answer is simple: ”Win 10 games next year because with that schedule, if he wins 10 games, he’s for real,” Clint replied, setting the bar high for the 20-year-old signal caller.

What’s the whole fuss about the schedule? Well, as we told you, the Longhorns start the season against the Buckeyes away from home. But that’s not all. The schedule also includes away games against Georgia and Florida. Other games will feature the likes of Vanderbilt, Kentucky, and Texas A&M. Easier matchups, but any of these teams can knock down a giant.

Coming back to the over-ARCHing narrative. The 2024 season was mostly about Quinn, but when Arch Manning got his opportunity, he delivered. In the momentary absence of Quinn Ewers, Arch completed 67.8% of his passes for 939 yards and nine touchdowns while also rushing for four scores. His SEC debut against Mississippi State was a trademark 26-for-31, 324 yards, and two touchdowns in a dominant 38-10 win. But SEC insider Brandon Olsen believes, ”He’s not number one, and he is one of the players, and we see it all the time, you know, young quarterback, high rank recruit,”

DJ Lagway from Florida Gators almost received similar hype during the spring practice last year. After a win against Samford as the starter, fans heavily vouched for him to replace Graham Mertz as the QB1. However, Billy Napier chose to go with Mertz as the starting QB; the latter suffered a season-ending ACL injury. When DJ Lagway ultimately got the starting QB role, he transformed not just the offense but the trajectory of the head coach. The Gators weren’t having a great time, but with Lagway at the helm, they closed the season 6-1 in their last 7 games. In that way, Lagway actually lived up to the hype.

Talking about Arch, Olsen said, “He’s either going to get the hype DJ Lagway gets it or got it, yeah, Arch Manning’s done nothing to prove that against Power four programs.’‘

”I’m interested to see what he does without having the Quinn Ewers thing looming over his shoulder,’‘ Corey Burton left Manning’s potential in balance. However, dad Cooper Manning fears the same for his son and hence didn’t quite enjoy the paramount attention media personnel is throwing Arch’s way.

Cooper Manning sees danger in the extra-hype game of the media 

Arch Manning as the new Texas Longhorns face in 2025: a narrative that has gained quite a bit of traction over social media for the last few months. But the dad of the young superstar doesn’t really buy that idea. Well, at least for now. Despite not having a remarkable career like his brothers inside the gridiron, as part of the quintessential football family and a longtime NFL collaborator, the eldest Manning knows what the perils look like in the path of a legendary football career.

He doesn’t underestimate the enormous talent that his son possesses; all he says is that the path will be challenging for Arch Manning, and he has to cross seas and mountains to reach the top. So, it’s way too early to put him on a pedestal. Also, as a caring father, Cooper fears the reverse effect of the high-flying media propaganda.

“You know how they do it in the media, they crown you way too early, and then jump on and ki-l you! So, he’s getting over way too much attention and way too much credit.” Cooper told Dan Patrick in a past interview. Those who know the media math know exactly what Cooper is trying to convey. We have seen it over and over again.