The AP Poll top 25 was released Monday, and the Texas Longhorns were ranked No. 1 in the country.
Texas has topped just about every preseason ranking this offseason and enters as the clear favorite to win the national championship. A big reason for the hype — despite talent across the roster — is new starting quarterback Arch Manning.
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Manning takes over for former starter Quinn Ewers, now a backup quarterback for the Miami Dolphins. In his own rankings, Fox Sports’ RJ Young also has Texas at No. 1, but he believes if the Longhorns do win it all, Ewers will deserve a piece of the credit.
“If Texas wins a national title for the first time in two decades, it’s because Quinn Ewers — a three-year starter for the Longhorns who went on to become a seventh-round draft pick by the Miami Dolphins — helped set the table to enjoy the meal. That’s Ewers’ legacy,” Young wrote.
Ewers improved each season in Austin, finishing his Texas career with 9,128 passing yards, 68 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions.
Now, in his third year at Texas, Manning’s era truly begins. He saw limited action last season, including two starts, but Young believes this is clearly his team.
“Make no mistake about it, though, this is now Arch Manning’s team, and he’s the best quarterback that the Longhorns have had since Vince Young,” Young wrote.
While Manning prepares for his first full season as the starter, Ewers has already had his NFL debut — and it didn’t go smoothly. In the Dolphins’ first preseason game against the Chicago Bears, he completed just 5-of-18 passes for 91 yards with no touchdowns, no interceptions, two sacks, and two fumbles.