Arch Manning hype reaches new heights as the 2026 college football season approaches

As the 2026 season’s college football approaches, Arch Manning has become one of the leading names in for the season. Arch Manning, the nephew of famous NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning, and the son of Cooper Manning, has become the biggest name after his contribution in the 2025 season.

The Texas Longhorn quarterback is entering the new season with a list of expectations after being the team's starter last season.Manning has entered Texas with a five-star rating as the highest rated recruit, overall a No. 1 recruit from high school. And throughout the years, Manning has shown why Texas showed so much trust in him. Being a player from a family with football legends like Peyton and Eli, Arch was already carrying the pressure of a legacy to prove himself on the field.

But years of practice and patience have helped him cope with the expectations fans had of him, and he is improving throughout the journey, making him an influential player for the new season.

Arch Manning’s journey from Texas to becoming a star

In 2023, when Manning joined Texas over Georgia and Alabama, his coach there didn't rush directly into putting him in the spotlight because of his familial status; rather, the Texas staff thought about the long-term development of Arch’s career.

In the 2025 season, after being known as the starter quarterback, Manning has shown a range of improvements on his part, passing for over 3,100 yards and 26 touchdowns with 10+ rushing scores.

Overall, a slow-motion start to the season finally led to a successful one. His Citrus Bowl performance against Michigan was impressive, where he threw for 221 yards and ran for 155 more and ultimately scored four touchdowns. Besides his performance on the field, Manning is also one of the most valuable players in all college sports in recent years.

With the little-known details about his net worth, currently, he has multi-million dollars as the highest paying college athlete.

What about the 2026 season, expectations, and conditions

After seeing his 2025 success, analysts have assumed that this season will be a big event for Arch Manning. Some of them stated that he can be a choice for the most prestigious award for college football, the Heisman Trophy. Keeping in mind the milestones he achieved, adding to decision-making skills and leadership qualities, critics have assumed that he can be one of the dominant quarterbacks in the country. Alongside Manning, Texas has been making a strong base of supporting players, who will be helpful to the quarterback to achieve the highest position. The Longhorns have put up great players at running back and wide receiver to ease pressure on the quarterback. As Manning's popularity is reaching peaks, some critics are raising questions about his experience and saying that he should be more experienced and that he should be consistent before being considered as a top player.

Altogether, Manning is still a newbie in the professional aspect, which is why his family and his fans want him to practice more so that the 2026 season will be a hit for him.