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Arch Manning has yet to throw a as a starter for the Texas Longhorns, and he's already in the middle of controversy. A recent post from an Instagram specializing in college football gave Manning a clear advantage in the race for the 2025 Heisman Trophy, generating a war between experts and fans.
The heir to the Manning dynasty spent the first two years of his college career as Quinn Ewers' backup on the Longhorns. Ewers' constant injuries in 2024 gave Manning a chance to show what he was capable of, generating a wave of from Longhorns fans who called for him to be given the starting job.
At the end of the 2024-2025 NCAA season, Ewers declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, leaving the spot open for Manning to take over the team. Amid this background, the Elite College Football posted, "Arch Manning is the early Heisman favorite at +700 odds," sparking the ire of a section of the fan base.
Is Arch a "nepobaby"?
Bearing the Manning surname is not easy. The patriarch of the family, Archie, is a Saints legend; Peyton won Super Bowls with the Colts and Broncos, and Eli was a champion with the Giants twice. Some fans do not forgive young Arch for bearing this surname, "He better thank his uncles for this," one netizen responded to ECF's post.
Another was harsher still, saying, "If his last name wasn't Manning, he'd be D3 at best," followed by another who said, "Last name carries too much weight," while another asserted, "What a joke, not even the best QB in the SEC." Not even Longhorns fans are on Arch's side, with one saying, "As a Texas fan, Jeremiah Smith."
Experts back Arch
This time, the experts don't agree with the fans. Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian said Manning is "a great leader" with "maturity and poise." While NFL GOAT Tom Brady said, "Arc Manning has the pedigree, the skills, and the mindset to be a game-changer."
Meanwhile, Nick Saban, considered the best head coach in NCAA history, called him "a special talent, and he's got all the tools to be one of the best quarterbacks to come out in a long time."
The Heisman race is just getting started and the NCAA regular season will put everyone in their place. Whether Manning confirms his status as Heisman material or sinks under the weight of his last name, only time will tell.