Last year, the preseason hype around Arch Manning was deafening, and it got to the young quarterback who hadn't started in more than two games before being named as the QB1 for the Texas Longhorns.
It didn't pan out at the beginning of the season, but as the year progressed, Manning found his footing and became one of the elite quarterbacks in the league. Now, even legendary coaches of some of Texas's rivals are hyping up Manning's second season as the Horns' starter.
Urban Meyer, who won National Championships as the head coach of the Florida Gators and Ohio State Buckeyes, recently shared what he thinks of Manning, and Texas fans are going to love what he had to say about their QB.
"You watch. I think he's gonna have a helluva year," Meyer said on his podcast, The Triple Option, that he hosts with Mark Ingram II and Rob Stone.
Hype is building around Arch Manning once again
Now, I think everyone is understandably a little hesitant to put all of the eggs in the "Arch Manning basket" after last year's disappointment to start the season.
However, receiving praise from a ball-knower like Meyer is a huge step in the right direction for Manning's "sophomore" season as the Longhorns' starting quarterback.
Three-time national champion Urban Meyer is an Arch Manning believer. @3xOptionShow #hookem pic.twitter.com/3924iBZIx8
— THE STAMPEDE (@TheStampedeUT) March 17, 2026
Last season, after an... atrocious... start to the year against Ohio State, Manning amassed 3,163 passing yards for 26 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. He also ran for 399 yards and a jaw-dropping 10 rushing touchdowns.
Manning, quite literally, came into his own as the season progressed, seemingly finding ways to improve week in and week out, even after suffering a concussion as he powered Texas to victory against the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
This year, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian has beefed up the offensive line, given Manning even more elite targets, and filled his backfield with undeniably top-tier running backs.
Manning is set up for success, and even the likes of Meyer believe that the best is yet to come for the Horns' QB1.