Arch Manning makes ESPN’s list of way-too-early Heisman Trophy contenders for 2026
Published:
Arch Manning didn’t lead Texas to the College Football Playoff in his first season as the starting quarterback, and things overall didn’t quite go as planned in his much-anticipated entrance into the college football limelight in 2025.
But there’s always next year, and after Manning’s Longhorns suffered 3 losses this season that kept them out of the Playoff, ESPN college football analyst Mark Schlabach believes there could be some great things in store in 2026. On Saturday night, right as Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza was winning the 2025 Heisman Trophy, Schlabach released his list of the way-too-early Heisman contenders for next season.
And Manning is squarely on that list of potential candidates.
After struggling to start this season with a forgettable performance in that Week 1 loss at Ohio State, Manning managed to improve as the season progressed. He ended up throwing for 2,942 yards with 24 touchdown passes and just 7 interceptions. His completion percentage was 61.4, and he showed some ability to hurt defenses with his legs, running for 244 yards and 8 TDs.
Schlabach thinks Manning can do even better in 2026, and he believes Manning could be in Mendoza’s shoes next year at this time, accepting college football’s biggest award in New York. Here was his synopsis of Manning’s situation going into next season when breaking down his Heisman chances:
Even after all the hand-wringing about Manning being overrated at the start of the season, the former 5-star recruit ended up putting together a good campaign, throwing for 2,942 yards with 24 touchdowns. The No. 13 Longhorns need to find some offensive linemen (he was sacked 23 times) and receivers to help him in 2026.
Manning merely scratched the surface of what he can be during his first season as Texas’s starter, so he could be in for a banner 2026 season and, just maybe, become a Heisman Trophy winner 12 months from now.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
