Arch Manning, the latest quarterback in the storied Manning family, has yet to take a snap as Texas’ full-time starter, but he is already attracting significant attention as a top prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft.
CBS Sports analyst Josh Edwards ranked Manning No. 1 in his most recent list of the top 50 prospects to watch this season. Manning, the grandson of former New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning and nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, leads a group of players expected to impact college football and beyond. All three of Manning’s relatives were named to the NFL Pro Bowl as quarterbacks. The times Manning has been at the helm of the snap for Texas, he's been nothing but excellent.
Behind Manning, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs is ranked No. 2. Downs transferred from Alabama following coach Nick Saban’s retirement. CBS noted that he became the first freshman in Alabama's program history to lead the team in tackles. His brother, Josh Downs, was a third-round draft pick by the Indianapolis Colts in 2023. Their father, Gary Downs, played seven seasons in the NFL, and the family's athletic lineage continues with their uncle, Dre Bly, who was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and a Super Bowl champion.
Texas will travel to Ohio Stadium to open the 2025 season against the reigning national champion Buckeyes. All eyes will be on the showdown between quarterback Arch Manning and safety Caleb Downs—two of the top prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft.
This week, one game is a rematch of last season’s College Football Playoff semifinal, where Ohio State defeated Texas 28-14 at the Cotton Bowl. In what is expected to be one of the most anticipated openers in college football history, Texas, seeking revenge, will now face the Buckeyes on their home turf. Both teams enter the season with significant roster turnover. Still, the focus is firmly on their new leaders: Manning, taking over as Texas’s full-time starter, and Downs, the Buckeyes’ defensive anchor.