Steve Sarkisian’s Longhorns draw strong prediction from NCAAF coaches ahead of Arch Manning’s first season as starter

A new NCAAF season is about to begin, and with it, several title contenders are emerging based on the perspectives of key figures within the game. Steve Sarkisian’s Texas Longhorns will have a new leader on the field in Arch Manning—something many view as a major asset in their hopes of making a deep run this campaign.

The excitement surrounding Manning and his team grew even stronger after the release of the College Football Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll, which revealed that the Longhorns are considered the top contenders heading into the upcoming season.

This ranking, which is voted on by various coaches selected through a random draw—conference by conference plus independents—offers an indication of which programs are viewed as the leading contenders to reach the National Championship Game.

The Ohio State Buckeyes, the reigning champions, were surprisingly placed in the second spot, while the prestigious podium was completed by James Franklin’s Penn State Nittany Lions, who finished third in the voting.

The top 10 was rounded out by Georgia, Notre Dame, Clemson, Oregon, Alabama, LSU, and finally Miami. Perhaps the biggest surprises were Michigan appearing at No. 14 and the Florida Gators landing at No. 17.

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Are the Longhorns truly legitimate title contenders?

A new season of College Football is about to kick off, and several teams have serious aspirations of becoming title contenders. What Steve Sarkisian accomplished last year caught everyone’s attention—though of course, the ultimate goal of lifting the trophy in the final game slipped away during the playoffs.

Quinn Ewers’ departure to the NFL opened the door for Arch Manning to officially claim the starting quarterback role, signaling the start of a new era in Texas for the program.

The first stop will be far from easy, as the Longhorns will face off against Ryan Day’s Ohio State Buckeyes, the reigning NCAAF champions, who are also dealing with a similar situation regarding the starting quarterback role on their team.

All eyes on Manning

Following Ewers’ departure, Arch Manning is set to become the starting QB for the Texas Longhorns, carrying immense expectations into his first full season. Having served as a backup for two years, Manning now takes the reins of a team that made back-to-back College Football Playoff semifinals. His ability to lead the team back to the playoffs will be a key storyline, as will his adjustment to the full-time role.

The pressure on Manning is significant, not only because he is replacing a successful starter, but also due to his famous last name. However, some analysts believe the pressure is unfair given his lack of extensive playing time.

The talented QB has appeared in 12 games with two starts, leading the team to wins in both. The consensus is that his performance and ability to handle the spotlight will be the biggest factors in Texas’ success.