A new era has dawned in Austin. After two seasons as the starting quarterback, Quinn Ewers has officially declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, bringing to a close a chapter that saw him lead the Texas Longhorns to consecutive College Football Playoff appearances. While Ewers leaves behind a commendable legacy, his departure unequivocally signals the arrival of the moment many have anticipated since his highly publicized commitment: the Arch Manning era.
Ewers, who was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft, leaves the Longhorns in a significantly better position than he found them. He guided Texas to a 12-2 record in 2023 and an impressive 13-3 mark last season, culminating in a berth in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Despite some critics pointing to a perceived inconsistency in his play, Ewers’ contributions to the program’s resurgence cannot be overstated. He handled the looming presence of a generational talent in Arch Manning with professionalism and class, even offering a positive prediction for Manning’s upcoming season in Austin.
But the spotlight now belongs squarely on Arch Manning. The nephew of Super Bowl-champion quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning, Arch arrived in Austin as the undisputed No. 1 overall recruit in his class, burdened by a legacy and a hype machine unlike any other. After redshirting in 2023 and serving as Ewers’ backup in 2024, Manning’s time to lead is finally here.
Head Coach Steve Sarkisian, who has orchestrated the Longhorns’ return to national prominence, appears “very at ease” with Manning taking the reins. This comfort stems in large part from Manning’s on-field exposure during the 2024 season. While Ewers was the primary starter, injuries provided Manning with crucial game experience, including starts against Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State. In those appearances and various “Wildcat” packages, Manning showcased glimpses of his immense talent, throwing for 939 yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions, while adding four rushing touchdowns and 108 yards on the ground. These moments, particularly in critical situations, have seemingly convinced Sarkisian and the coaching staff of his readiness.
The anticipation surrounding Manning’s first full season as the starting quarterback is palpable. Fans, media, and analysts alike are eager to see if he can live up to the unprecedented hype and potentially contend for the Heisman Trophy, with some even projecting him as a top quarterback prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft. However, some analysts, like Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports, suggest that Manning still has more to prove to be crowned the top signal-caller in college football, ranking him behind Clemson’s Cade Klubnik and Penn State’s Drew Allar in his recent quarterback rankings.
Manning himself has acknowledged the challenges of being a backup in the era of the transfer portal, stating it was “tough” but expressing his unwavering commitment to Texas. “There’s nowhere else I want to be. I want to be at Texas. I have friends here. I love this place. I want to be the quarterback at the University of Texas. Sometimes, it’s just worth the wait,” Manning said, a sentiment that will undoubtedly resonate with the Longhorn faithful. He also spoke highly of the current quarterback room, which includes promising talents like Trey Owens and freshman KJ Lacey, who will be looking to follow in Manning’s footsteps.
Manning inherits a deep and talented supporting cast that should ease his transition. The offense features a dynamic backfield with Quintrevion Wisner and the returning CJ Baxter, along with a stacked receiver room led by DeAndre Moore Jr. and freshman standout Ryan Wingo. The offensive line, though losing some key pieces, is expected to remain strong with players like Trevor Goosby stepping into starting roles. On the defensive side, the Longhorns return a formidable unit, with elite pass rushers Colin Simmons and Trey Moore, and a strong secondary led by Michael Taaffe and Malik Muhammad.
The expectations are indeed sky-high, but Manning’s poise, talent, and leadership potential – as noted by Coach Sarkisian, who has observed Manning naturally leading younger players – suggest he is well-equipped to handle the pressure. The journey ahead will be challenging, especially with a tough schedule that includes a week one showdown with the reigning National Champions, Ohio State, on the road. However, it is also brimming with opportunities for Manning to etch his own legacy and for Texas to solidify its position as a true national championship contender.
As the 2025 college football season rapidly approaches, all eyes will be on Austin, eager to witness the unfolding of the Arch Manning era. The torch has been passed, and the future, it seems, is now.
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