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The Arch Manning era begins in Texas: This is how the young QB dealt with tough Ohio State loss

Manning had to watch Quinn Ewers struggled as they missed out on the National Championship.

Arch Manning runs for a first down during the Cotton Bowl between...
Arch Manning runs for a first down during the Cotton Bowl between Texas and Ohio State.LAPRESSE

The 2024 season did not have a happy ending for the Texas Longhorns. Everything started out great for one of the best teams in the nation, and the regular season was filled with tons of wins and hope for the future. That hope came by way of Arch Manning, who impressed fans during his sporadic playing time, particularly while Quinn Ewers was injured.

But when Ewers was healthy, Manning was stuck on the bench. No matter the pleas from fans and a lot of college football analysts, head coach Steve Sarkisian stood by his starter. Ultimately, Ewers struggled in the College Football Playoff, and didn't make enough plays to beat Ohio State in the semifinals. When the final whistle blew, a somber Manning was seen walking off the field with his head down.

Arch Manning era begins after Texas falls in Cotton Bowl vs Ohio State

Arch Manning fully expected to be Texas' starting QB in 2025 with Quinn Ewers leaving

Manning looked defeated, but Longhorns fans couldn't help but feel excited about the future. During the pregame show, Ewers revealed that he doesn't see himself playing college football next season, which means he will head to the NFL. That gives Manning the green light to be Texas' starter in 2025.

The other QBs on Texas' roster are freshman Trey Owens, junior Joe Tatum and senior Cole Lourd. Owens and Tatum would theoretically enter a competition for the starting job with Manning, but odds are extremely high that Arch will be under center for the first game. Unless the Longhorns decide to bring in a high-profile player through the transfer portal, which is unlikely.

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