Arch Manning remains the favorite to win the Heisman this year. And before his grandfather said he will be at Texas next year, a fact not corroborated by Manning's own comments, he was the favorite to be the first overall pick in the NFL draft.
All of that means he is arguably the best quarterback in college football, especially since he got those odds on the back of very limited playing time over the last two years. He's obviously very good, but ESPN refused to name him a preseason All-American.
The QB was neither first-team (Cade Klubnik) nor second-team (Garrett Nussmeier) for ESPN, falling short to two veterans with a lot more playing experience than the Texas Longhorns star has.
ESPN analyst Chris Low said, "Klubnik was one of the most improved players in the country last season. His next step is proving that he's one the best players in the country."
Klubnik had 43 touchdowns in 2024, and he's reuniting with all his top receivers in his third year. Nussmeier is in a similar position, coming off a good season with a lot of talent coming back with him at LSU. Still, with the hype around Manning, it is hard to swallow the Texas QB not getting a mention here.