Texas football has a mountain of hype surrounding it this offseason, similar to that of the 2025 summer. That all stems from Arch Manning being the starting quarterback in Austin, but this time there is some substance behind it.
Last summer, Manning was an idea. He was still the preseason Heisman Trophy favorite, but he was raw. That inexperience showed early in the 2025 season, his first as a starter, and it cost Texas. Losses to Ohio State and Florida were littered with inconsistent play from the former five-star recruit, and they ended up keeping the Longhorns out of the College Football Playoff.
Late in the season, Manning started to show signs of improvement. As a result, the talent that got him so much buzz in the first place really started to shine through, as his big frame and elite athleticism were complemented by better play from the pocket. All of that has led to another offseason of Manning hype.
FOX Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt is buying into the hype, but he isn’t quite sold on Manning as the best quarterback in all of college football. On his offseason rankings of the best quarterbacks in the sport, Klatt ranked Manning at No. 1 just behind Oregon’s Dante Moore.
It doesn’t come as a huge surprise to see Moore, who could’ve been a top pick in the NFL Draft last spring, as the top-ranked quarterback according to Klatt. The Oregon QB was one of the best players in college football last season and is a contender to be the top pick in 2027, so he has earned his spot.
Still, having Manning below anybody coming into the season is a take that has the potential to age poorly. Steve Sarkisian has given Manning plenty of talent to work with on offense, including star wide receiver Cam Coleman to pair with Ryan Wingo on the outside. If Manning continues to progress and grow as a passer and can blend that with his running ability, the sky is the limit for he and the Longhorns this season.
The post Joel Klatt ranks Texas QB Arch Manning behind Dante Moore for 2026 season appeared first on ClutchPoints.
