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Arch Manning and the Texas Longhorns were some of the most disappointing figures in college football last season.
A slow start to the season doomed their national championship expectations, with the young quarterback looking far from the can't-miss talent scouts and fans claimed he was.
Manning picked things up in the second half of the season, looking as sharp as expected and silencing the doubters, but it was too late.
That's why, despite the late-season surge, The Athletic currently has him listed at No. 7 on their college football quarterback list.
Arch Manning ranked No. 7 among college football quarterbacks
Trinidad Chambliss, Dante Moore, CJ Carr, Darian Mensah, Julian Sayin and Drew Mestemaker are all ahead of him on the list.
At least he still made the cut for the top-tier quarterbacks, ranking right ahead of LSU's Sam Leavitt.
Expectations are still sky-high for Manning. In his scouting report, The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner pointed out that even with the struggles, he would've still likely been the No. 1 pick had he declared for this year's draft, and that will most likely be the case again in 2027.
"Manning's physical gifts as a huge passer with elite athleticism would have outweighed the fact he wasn’t ready as a processor or a consistent player from the pocket. If Manning plays as he did during the second half of last season, he’ll be the No. 1 pick in April," Baumgardner wrote.
Regardless of preseason rankings, it's always felt like the top draft pick is Manning's to lose.
And while anything can happen in a long college football season. it's hard to believe any quarterback-needy team will willingly pass on him.
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