Entering his first season as a starter, Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning might be the most high-profile and well-known player in college football, thanks in large part to the famous last name he shares with his NFL legend uncles, Peyton and Eli Manning. Fair or not, with that notoriety comes some high expectations.
Manning’s fame isn’t just because of his last name – though it certainly doesn’t hurt. The young star was also the top-rated quarterback in the 2022 high school recruiting class, and he looked the part whenever he saw the field last season.
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After serving as the backup for previous Longhorns starting quarterback Quinn Ewers for the past two seasons, Manning is now heading into his first season as a full-time starter. And while he undoubtedly faces some soaring expectations, with some already talking about his NFL Draft potential, his first game won’t be easy.
Manning will make his first start of the season on the road against the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes in front of over 100,000 hostile fans. And before he heads into that game, three-time national champion head coach Urban Meyer had a pretty clear warning for the young star quarterback.
“I think it’s going to be a great game,” Meyer on the Triple Option Podcast, via On3. “And I think this, before I go on to Ohio State — Arch Manning. I’ve watched a lot of him. This is going to be a player, with that name and that background and the expectations put on him, he’s going to have to have to play great. He’s picking a tough team to play great at, in a tough environment.”
Meyer warned that with all the hype surrounding Manning heading into the season, there is a lot of pressure for him to play well in the high-profile season-opener.
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“If he struggles, mark this down — there’s going to be a lot of pressure on that player. Unfair pressure, because he is a hell of a player. Is he going to win the Heisman? I mean, that’s those are big questions to ask,” Meyer said.
He’s the most high-profile college football player in the country. Fair or not, people are going to expect him to play up to that hype.
Urban Meyer Has a Clear Warning For Arch Manning first appeared on Men’s Journal on Jul 30, 2025