Is there too much hype surrounding Texas QB Arch Manning?

Quarterback Arch Manning comes from a famous football family, so there’s hype and pressure that come along with having his last name.

But the hype encompassing Manning is way too high before he even gets to make his first start as Texas’ full-time starter in the upcoming 2025 campaign. It’s also a bit unfair to him.

Yes, Manning’s grandfather is legendary former college and NFL quarterback Archie Manning, and his uncles are Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Eli and Peyton.

Being in a family with such historic success in the sport of football puts Arch Manning in the spotlight. Big time. However, the redshirt sophomore is just about to begin his first full season as Texas’ starting quarterback, and already, pundits are declaring him a Heisman Trophy favorite and a possible No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Is that really fair to Arch Manning? After all, in his first two campaigns in Austin, Texas, the New Orleans native has appeared in 12 games and thrown 95 passes.

His early production is solid, as he’s completed 66.3% of his pass attempts for 969 yards with nine touchdowns and just two interceptions. Plus, he’s also totaled a combined 115 rushing yards and four scores on the ground.

Let’s be honest, though. If his last name wasn’t Manning, Arch’s college career up until now wouldn’t necessarily suggest him as a Heisman Trophy favorite, although he was the No. 1 national prospect coming out of high school in the 2023 class.

Arch Manning and his teammates will know right away just how good they are. Texas, the preseason No. 1 team in the Associated Press top-25 poll, will travel to No. 3 Ohio State
in Week 1 on Saturday.

In the most recent College Football Playoff, the Buckeyes knocked off the Longhorns in the semifinal round en route to the national championship. Of course, Arch Manning and other Texas players will want to exact revenge in Columbus.

On Tuesday morning, Chris Fowler of ESPN/ABC, the networks’ lead play-by-play announcer for college football games, said via the “Get Up” program that there is a target on the collective back of the entire Texas team in 2025, but that target is predominantly on Manning.

“He is, by far, the most hyped, crossover star in the sport by a factor of 13,” Fowler said of the Longhorns signal-caller, adding, “I can’t wait to see how he performs, and all eyes are on him, really, from the first snap.”

The hype is understandable, even if it’s overblown. But let’s allow Manning to get some time as the official starter under his belt before anointing him the country’s premier quarterback.