
Texas-Ohio State should answer one burning question: Can Arch Manning match the hype?
Expect it to be a top-five matchup. Expect the Ohio State Buckeyes to act as if they are not only the defending national champions, but that they walked over a Texas corpse to earn that title.
There is no denying the fact that the 2025 Buckeyes lost a lot of players who helped make their season memorable. Both the offensive and defensive coordinators left. There will be a new starting quarterback, two new bookend defensive ends, two new bell cow backs and a gaping hole in leadership and production at middle linebacker. But the program is still the standard in the sport in a conference that is growing in strength.
The sport's last two national champions were both from the Big Ten Conference. The No. 1-ranked team in the AP Top 25 Poll for the final eight weeks of the 2024 season was a Big Ten team. In an era that has been defined by the SEC's dominance over the past two decades, the balance of power feels like it is shifting with a Week 1 matchup between two teams that not only met in the College Football Playoff semifinals last year, but each was ranked No. 1 in the AP Top 25 at least once last season.
And while Texas, which went 7-1 in SEC play and earned a spot in the conference championship game in its first year in the league, has also lost plenty of important pieces on both sides of the ball, they've gained perhaps the biggest advantage in this 2025 matchup that is likely to make the game categorically different: Arch Manning will start at quarterback for Texas. Not Quinn Ewers.
The NFL told us exactly how it felt about Ewers in April. A player who was once ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the country, led Texas to a double-digit win against Nick Saban's Alabama team in Tuscaloosa, won a Big 12 Championship and played in two CFP semifinals in two years, was selected in the seventh and final round of the NFL Draft.
Manning, who has shown enough in limited competition in 2024, is already projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft — or 2027 — if he chooses not to enter early. This would lead many to believe that Manning's skill set could've been the difference between beating Georgia in the SEC title game or Ohio State in the CFP semifinal round.
Is it a stretch? Perhaps. But only one quarterback in the FBS in the last 25 years has recorded a 75-plus-yard touchdown pass, a 65-yard rushing touchdown and another 50-plus-yard touchdown pass in the same game: Arch Manning.
In a Week 3 matchup against UTSA last season, Manning completed 9 of 12 passes for 223 yards with four total touchdowns. His 67-yard TD rush was the longest by a Texas QB since Vince Young in 2005. And he did that in relief of Ewers. In his only start against SEC competition, Manning completed 26 of 31 passes for 325 yards and was responsible for two passing and one rushing touchdown.
His size, his speed and his arm talent remind many not of his Super Bowl-winning and SEC-legend uncles Peyton and Eli, but of their father, Archie Manning, who was making it happen with his feet before people knew what a mobile quarterback was. At 6-foot-4, 222 pounds, Arch Manning is the closest comparison to Young that Texas has had at QB in 20 years. Since then, every quarterback from David Ash to Tyrone Swoopes has tried to reach the high-water mark Young set, but they've all fallen short in one way or another.
For Manning to become the Texas QB most believe he is capable of being, he'll need to win a championship — a national championship. Steve Sarkisian and Texas have been building a program that can end the year atop the mountain since he first arrived from Alabama, where he coordinated one of the best offenses we've seen this century.
This year's Texas team is stout in the middle, fast on the perimeter and loaded with a roster of players who expect to play for the national title not in a few years, but right here, right now. That is what Manning has to accomplish. That is the bar for success for a program that is running up against the ceiling Oklahoma hit during the Lincoln Riley era. It's the ceiling Ohio State broke through in Year 1 of the CFP and is now one of just four programs with multiple national titles in the playoff era (Ohio State, Clemson, Alabama, Georgia).
And that is why the Week 1 matchup between Texas and Ohio State, which will take place on Aug. 30 in Columbus and air on FOX, will be so telling. With a win over the defending national champions on the road, very few will pick against the Longhorns the rest of the way. With a loss to Ohio State, though, shovels will find their way to dirt to begin digging the six-foot hole to bury what was once the mighty SEC and its newest jewel, the Texas Longhorns.
RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports. Follow him at @RJ_Young .
Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily ! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience College Football Texas Longhorns
recommended
Get more from College Football Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Texas Attracting Relatives of NFL and NBA Stars is Raising Eyebrows Across College Football
Texas Attracting Relatives of NFL and NBA Stars is Raising Eyebrows Across College Football originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Whether fans are ready or not, the next wave of athletes has a high chance of making one feel old. Advertisement The athletes that many of us grew up watching now have children set to hit the college or professional ranks. While these players are scattered throughout the country, there seems to be a hotbed forming in Austin, Texas, at the most important position in football. Following the departure of Quinn Ewers, who was drafted in the seventh round with the 231st overall pick by the Miami Dolphins, the Longhorns will turn to former five-star and No. 1 recruit in the 2023 class, Arch Manning. Although he has two starts under his belt, fans have long been clamoring for the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning to take over. While the Manning name has plenty of notoriety, the Texas quarterback room has a chance to be headlined by the son of a former pro athlete for years to come. The Longhorns hold a commitment from 2026 five-star Dia Bell, the son of former Phoenix Suns star and two-time All-NBA Defensive Team selection, Raja Bell. They are also in the mix for a 2027 four-star Gunner Rivers, who is the son of eight-time Pro Bowl quarterback, Philip Rivers. Advertisement With Steve Sarkisian and Texas having a chance to obtain so much potential star power with famous relatives, fans online are taking notice. "Which would be indicative of NFL QBs believing in Sark's QB development," pointed out one fan. "That'd be insane," said another. "I sense a pattern there 🤔," suspected a third. Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning takes the field before his team's College Football Playoff game against the Clemson Tigers at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Dec. 21, Miron-Imagn Images As it stands, Rivers doesn't hold an offer from the Longhorns, but the No. 1 player in Alabama did recently attend a camp. "My first time here, it went well, enjoyed, and good talking to all the coaches," Gunner Rivers told On3 about his Longhorns visit. "I had a great time." This past season for St. Michael Catholic, he threw for 3,927 yards and 36 touchdowns, leading his team to the semifinals of Alabama's 4A playoffs. As for Bell, he threw for 2,597 yards with 29 touchdowns while leading American Heritage to a 9-2 record before he suffered a season-ending injury in the playoffs. Advertisement While there's a chance this quarterback succession of relatives of former pros doesn't happen, Texas is clearly on track to attract the biggest names for years to come. Related: Rule of Legendary NFL Coach May Prevent Arch Manning From Entering 2026 NFL Draft This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Georgia Tech Football Faces Crossroads Season With New AD Coming
Georgia Tech Football Faces Crossroads Season With New AD Coming originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The past decade on The Flats has been a slow fade from national relevance, but now Georgia Tech finds itself at a critical inflection point. Brent Key, once the sentimental interim, now sits in year three as the full-time head coach with a 14–12 record and back-to-back bowl appearances—the program's first such streak in a decade. Yet the momentum is fragile, and the stakes in Atlanta have never been higher. Advertisement Georgia Tech enters 2025 perched on the edge of two futures. One where it fully reclaims its spot among college football's power programs. The other? A slow slide into irrelevance, watching rivals surge ahead while Tech spins its wheels in neutral. Brent Key's Balancing Act Let's be honest: Brent Key didn't win this job in a traditional way—he was handed the keys during a turbulent transition. Now, with a new athletic director expected to step in following the exit of J Batt, the honeymoon might be over. Key's record—14-12 over two seasons (7-6 in both 2023 and 2024)—is steady, not spectacular. And while bowl games are better than basement finishes, steady won't keep you employed for long in today's arms race of college football. Especially not in Atlanta, a city with SEC-sized expectations and no patience for stagnation. Advertisement The upcoming schedule won't allow him to hide. Georgia Tech's 2025 slate reads like a national showcase: Georgia. Tennessee. Notre Dame. Colorado. Those are more than just games—they're high-stakes auditions. Win, or even compete credibly, and the program could earn an invitation back into college football's exclusive rooms. Lose big, and a coaching search might finally begin in earnest. Where Does Tech Fit in the New ACC? Tech's urgency is only heightened by the ACC's newly introduced revenue model, which prioritizes performance and TV ratings. No more guaranteed slices of the pie—schools that show up in primetime and win reap bigger rewards. So, where does Georgia Tech stand? Somewhere in the middle. This season is a golden opportunity to change that narrative. Advertisement The Yellow Jackets are one of the few programs in the ACC with the combination of brand potential and big-game matchups to cash in. But without tangible results—wins, rankings, and national buzz—Tech risks being just another mid-tier program fighting over the scraps Clemson, Florida State, and now SMU leave behind. J Batt's Blueprint and the Search for a Successor J Batt didn't stay long, but he left a trail of bold moves and financial fixes that gave the program a real shot at relevance. Before arriving in Atlanta, Batt was Alabama's financial engineer, a behind-the-scenes operator helping fund the Saban Empire. At Tech, he went to work immediately: a record-setting $78.2 million haul for the Alexander-Tharpe Fund. A $500 million "Full Steam Ahead" facilities overhaul. Hyundai naming rights for Grant Field. A neutral-site Georgia rivalry game in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. These weren't Band-Aids—these were surgical moves to bring Tech football into the modern era. Advertisement Revenue jumped from $29 million to $59 million. Georgia Tech leapt from 66th to 38th in Division I football revenue rankings in under two years. Now, with Batt off to greener pastures, Jon Palumbo—who's been in the department since 2022—takes over. Whether he maintains the same aggressive vision remains to be seen. But make no mistake: the next AD will have full license to make a coaching move if things stall. A Sleeping Giant in a Fertile State There's no reason Georgia Tech should be a middling program. The state of Georgia is a top-5 recruiting haven, and Tech's last two classes—ranked 33rd and 18th nationally—suggest Key has found a pitch that resonates. But closing the gap with SEC programs that dominate the region will require more than just talent—it requires proof of concept. Advertisement The good news? The schedule gives Tech a platform. The bad news? It also gives them nowhere to hide. And then there's the big hypothetical looming: realignment. If the SEC ever comes calling again—remember, Tech was a founding member—it'll be games like these that determine if the Yellow Jackets are ready to come home. Six Years Removed From Paul Johnson and the Triple Option Six seasons ago, Paul Johnson's option-based offense was phased out. The rebuild hasn't exactly gone according to plan, though the transfer portal has helped accelerate the process in recent years. Teams like Colorado have shown how quickly a new identity can take root. Tech isn't that far off—but it needs a signature season to flip the narrative. Advertisement That brings us to 2025. A year where bowl eligibility won't be enough. A year that could cement Brent Key as the long-term answer—or end the chapter before it truly began. Related: Georgia Tech Lands Explosive WR in 2026 Recruiting Win The Bottom Line In the NIL and transfer portal era, programs either adapt fast or get left behind. Georgia Tech has the infrastructure. It has a pipeline to talent. It has the city. What it doesn't have—yet—is proof. 2025 is the year to change that. Or else the new AD, armed with J Batt's blueprint and no emotional ties to the current regime, might decide it's time for buzz off. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Georgia Tech Football's CFP Odds Leaves Fans in Disbelief
Georgia Tech Football's CFP Odds Leaves Fans in Disbelief originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Could 2025 be the year Georgia Tech flips the national script? After two consecutive seven-win seasons and a wave of recruiting and portal momentum, ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) is taking notice. According to the latest projections, the Yellow Jackets have the fifth-best odds in the ACC to reach the College Football Playoff, a significant nod to Brent Key's steady rebuild in Atlanta. Advertisement Let that sink in. A program once written off as a rebuilding project is now in the same postseason conversation as Clemson and Miami. ESPN's FPI currently gives Georgia Tech a 9.8% chance to make the playoff, behind Clemson (47.3%), Miami (46.3%), SMU (21.1%), and Virginia Tech (12.5%). The Jackets rank No. 28 overall, ahead of several Power 5 stalwarts like Florida State, UNC, and NC State. So what's changed? Since taking over the helm in 2022, Brent Key has not only stabilized a program in flux but has created an identity rooted in physical play, discipline, and player development. Georgia Tech has pulled off multiple wins over ranked teams under Key's watch, signaling they're more than capable of punching above their weight. Advertisement The 2025 schedule is favorable, if navigated wisely. Tech faces only two top-25 teams by FPI standards, No. 11 Clemson and No. 2 Georgia. Crucially, only Clemson is a conference game. The rest of the ACC slate includes matchups with Duke, Wake Forest, and Syracuse, all ranked outside the FPI top 50. Tech avoids SMU, Miami, and Virginia Tech, which should make this task much easier. If Tech handles business against mid-tier opponents and snags an upset against Clemson or Georgia, a 10-win season isn't just possible, it could be probable. Georgia Tech's improved recruiting rankings and portal pickups reflect a clear upward trajectory in talent acquisition. With a stable offensive staff, returning quarterback Haynes King, and a much improved defense, there's reason to believe the Jackets are entering the 2025 season with their most balanced roster in years. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King (10). Brett Davis-Imagn Images In a shifting ACC landscape, Georgia Tech has something many programs lack: momentum. ESPN's analytics aren't making emotional predictions, they're crunching data and seeing what many around the conference are beginning to feel: Georgia Tech isn't just building, they're ready to strike. Advertisement Can the Yellow Jackets make the College Football Playoff? The odds might still be long, but if Tech fans are looking for hope grounded in data, this is it. FPI says there's a shot, and for a program that's battled its way back into the national conversation, that's a headline worth buzzing about. Georgia Tech football team 2025 playoff odds ESPN FPI ranking ACC schedule Brent Key Related: A New Era Begins as Georgia Tech Names New Baseball Head Coach Related: Georgia Tech Hits Home Run Hiring James Ramsey as Coach This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.