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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JUNE 26: Archie Manning, and Arch Manning work a Pre-Manning Passing Academy "Shift" at Raising Cane's Thibodeaux, Louisiana on June 26, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kaitlyn Morris/Getty Images for Raising Cane's) | Getty Images for Raising Cane's
Those of us who were there (so… pretty much everybody) remember the story.
Prior to the 2025 college football season’s kickoff last August, for months leading up to then, the nation’s sports media (and beyond, frankly) were seemingly ready hand Texas starting quarterback Arch Manning the Heisman Trophy before he had even stepped onto the field with an intention to set himself apart.
For Manning, it didn’t go well. (No, no. We won’t get into the specifics of Manning’s early season slump.)
And as soon as the wind had left Manning’s sails, it seemed as though America remembered it was Manning’s first season as a full-time starter as a then-redshirt sophomore, and so expectations let up.
Even so, Manning’s grandfather—Archie Manning, an Ole Miss football legend who went on to enjoy an, at times, miserable, but nonetheless memorable, career in the NFL, mostly as starting quarterback for the fledgling pro start-up team, the New Orleans Saints (or, as fans famously knew them, the “Naw’lins Ain’ts.”)
Within weeks, formerly soaring expectations for Manning in his season as a full-time starter floated back down to earth, where, ever since, those same expectations have gradually ramped up for the 2026 season.
In other words, media was to blame for the impossible corner they backed Manning into by mid-season.
“I was kind of disappointed in a lot of people. The whole thing,” Archie Manning said. “They kind of crowned Arch before he ever played. I just didn’t think that was fair.
“Yeah, it was a little tough start. He played a great team. But I’ve never been more proud of anybody in my life. The way Arch battled through what he had to go through last year, and the way he played the last eight or nine games of the season.”
Indeed. Manning’s winning genes became evident as his confidence under center grew week by week.
Will we see another, albeit proportional, leap from Manning in 2026?
Hell… that’d be nice.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT THE LONGHORNS
Austin American-Statesman: What 3 things stood out about Arch Manning at Manning Passing Academy?
Austin American-Statesman: Who’s the funniest member of the Manning family? Arch reveals the answer
247Sports: Texas Football Schedule: Breaking down the finances of Longhorns’ nonconference slate in 2026 and beyond
247Sports: Horns247 Roundtable: Dissecting the five-year starts of Texas football coaches Steve Sarkisian and Mack Brown
Inside Texas: What have been the most difficult Texas schedules (with the benefit of hindsight)?
Inside Texas: Yes, Rasheem Biles is really that good
Inside Texas: The numbers behind Texas’ new RB room, and why it may just be the most explosive in the nation
Inside Texas: How Dailyn Swain fits with the Bulls (and other 2026 NBA Draft musings)
ICYMI IN BURNT ORANGE NATION
Don’t underestimate Steve Sarkisian’s impact at Texas
Predicting future SEC, Big Ten, other conferences realignment
Four-star CB Montre Jackson commits to Texas over Ole Miss, Texas Tech, and SMU
RECRUITING ROUNDUP
247Sports: Texas recruiting looks to stay hot with several big decisions upcoming
247Sports: Big decisions on deck, as elite recruits are set to come off the board soon
247Sports: The Stampede: Thoughts on Texas targets from The Opening Finals
Inside Texas: Inside Scoop, PART I: Marcus Fakatou, Ismael Camara, and Brandon Sherrard news, notes
Inside Texas: Inside Scoop, Part 2: Jalen Brewster, Monshun Sales, Landen Williams-Callis, Jason Johnson Day
Inside Texas: Texas RPM is in for French Freak, 5-Star Ismael Camara
Inside Texas: Texas Baseball Transfer Intel: The Cain replacement and final portal needs
Inside Texas: Wiltfong Whiparound: New five-star prediction for Texas, fresh intel on Dobson, Oregon and the biggest July 1 decisions
Inside Texas: Texas landed a strong recruiting class in June. What’s next?
SEC SHOWDOWN
Austin American-Statesman: Texas men’s basketball’s 2026-27 conference opponents revealed
Austin American-Statesman: ‘A no-brainer’: Peyton Manning supports nephew Arch, Texas Longhorns in game vs Tennessee
WHAT WE’RE READING
NEWS ACROSS LONGHORN NATION AND BEYOND
- Texas football remains on a roll on the recruiting trail.
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