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.

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.

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.

Arch Manning's tenure as Texas' full-time starting quarterback begins with a bang on Aug. 30, when the Longhorns travel to Ohio State in a rematch from the College Football Playof

After making it to the CFP semifinals, Texas saw its season come to an end at the hands of Ohio State. A few days later, quarterback Quinn Ewers declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, handing the keys to the offense over to Manning.

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.