SEC coach says it’s ‘impossible’ for Arch Manning to live up to the hype
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Texas quarterback Arch Manning is facing lofty expectations that are perhaps unprecedented ahead of the 2025 season.
Despite just 95 career pass attempts, Manning is the favorite to win the 2025 Heisman Trophy entering the year. With the likes of Paul Finebaum claiming that Manning will be a generational quarterback, it could be argued no quarterback with less on his résumé has ever been asked to meet standards this high.
That idea was acknowledged by an anonymous coach in an ESPN story published on Friday. The piece, written by multiple ESPN contributors, consults with numerous scouts and coaches about Manning’s future.
“He’s going to be a good player,” an anonymous SEC coach told ESPN. “The hype that it’s been, it’s impossible to reach.”
Manning’s own grandfather, Archie, shared a similar sentiment earlier this month when he said he expects Manning to be at Texas in 2026 rather than be an early entrant to the NFL Draft.
“People are saying he’s a Heisman candidate,” Archie said. “You’re not a Heisman Trophy candidate when you haven’t played but three games. It’s crazy.”
Manning will be asked to get off to a good start immediately in his first year as a starter. Texas will make the trip to Columbus to face the defending national champs in Week 1. The Longhorns are 2.5-point underdogs in that game, per the latest college football betting lines.
Kickoff against Ohio State is set for 12 p.m. ET on Aug. 30.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
