Arch Manning has served as Quinn Ewers' understudy for 2 seasons but the time has for come to lead Texas football. Ewers is heading to the NFL draft.

Texas QB Arch Manning has the Longhorns at the top of one analyst's way-too-early college football rankings following the CFP title game.

But Manning has done everything his way through his recruitment and since he got to Texas. And now, finally, with Ewers announcing for the NFL Draft on Wednesday, the keys are in Manning’s hands to run the Longhorns’ offense. He’s being handed a Lamborghini and Manning should make it purr.

The latest edition of the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship is officially in the books with Ohio State defeating Notre Dame, 34-23 on Monday in Atlanta, Georgia. But it is never too early to look ahead to the next one, and several sportsbooks are view the Texas Longhorns as major contenders for next year's title.

Manning's first game as the unquestioned face of Texas football will be against the same team Ewers faced in his last: Ohio State in Week 1.

Despite playing for arch-rival Texas A&M, even Johnny Manziel can admit the Longhorns' quarterback situation looks good in 2025.

Texas has reached consecutive College Football Playoff semifinals and posted 25 wins over two years. You have to go all the way back to when Colt McCoy was playing quarterback during coach Mack Brown's heyday more than 15 years ago to find a better stretch.

Arch Manning will never lead Texas football to a CFP title if the Longhorns don't fix a critical issue that held the offense back during the 2024 season.