Arch Manning has the weight of the world on his shoulders right now. Not only are the Texas Longhorns hoping he can bring them to ultimate college football glory, but the NFL is waiting for him to save some poor franchise. He's the most hyped player in a long time.
The expectations are so outsized that it's probably impossible for him to live up to them, but what if he comes up well short? That might spell doom for college football's most important player, according to ESPN's Bill Connelly.
"The top quarterback prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, Manning attempted 108 dropbacks while backing up or filling in for Quinn Ewers the past two seasons. And now he enters 2025 as the Heisman betting favorite (+600), leading a team that is the national title co-favorite (+550) and the likely preseason No. 1 team," Connelly noted.
After two seasons, it finally is the Year of Arch, and now it is time to find out if he can live up to the hype. He probably can't, but he can still be elite and deliver Texas a title.
"If he is, then Texas could remain atop the rankings all season and, after two straight College Football Playoff semifinal defeats, make it a couple of wins further," Connelly said before highlighting the major challenge ahead. "But if he's merely very good, the Longhorns' rebuilt offensive and defensive lines and unproven receiving corps could become major obstacles. No pressure, dude."
Manning can't be good. He can't even be a very good player. He has to be great for the Longhorns to reach their goal and for all this patience the college football world has exhibited for him to have been worth it.