Excitement Builds for Arch Manning’s Texas Longhorns in SEC

As the 2025 college football season approaches, the city of Austin is buzzing with anticipation. Arch Manning, the highly-rated sophomore quarterback, is set to make his much-anticipated debut as the starter for the Texas Longhorns. However, early predictions for the Southeastern Conference (SEC) suggest that Manning’s journey could be anything but easy.

Last season, the Longhorns made a strong entrance into the SEC, finishing with an impressive 7-1 conference record and an overall record of 13-3. Under the leadership of Quinn Ewers, Texas showed they could compete in one of the most fierce conferences in the NCAA. But with success comes the pressure of expectations. A recent preseason media poll named the Longhorns the favorite to win the SEC Championship, which adds significant weight to Manning’s role.

During the SEC Media Days, the poll results were surprising and noteworthy. For the first time in a decade, a team other than Alabama or Georgia topped the voting list; that team was Texas, who garnered an impressive 96 votes. Following them were Georgia with 44 votes, Alabama with 29, and LSU with 20. Other teams like South Carolina, Oklahoma, Florida, and Vanderbilt received fewer votes, emphasizing Texas’s new status as a force in the conference.

While this recognition is an exciting milestone, it also puts a target on the Longhorns’ back. Every other team in the SEC will be eager to prove they can stop the newcomers. Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer remarked at Media Days, “I still feel the SEC, top to bottom, is as strong as you’ll find.” Florida’s Billy Napier contributed by saying, “There’s an old saying: to be the best, you gotta beat the best.” It’s clear that Texas is not just being welcomed into the SEC; they are being challenged.

As preparations continue, Arch Manning will face the test of living up to the hype surrounding his name. Fans and critics alike will be watching to see if he’s ready to take on the immense pressure of leading Texas in a conference known for its elite-level competition.