Although fans and analysts are all in on Manning, an anonymous SEC coach recently told ESPN's Heather Dinich that Manning will have a hard time living up to the hype. "He's going to be a good player," said the SEC coach. "The hype that it's been, it's impossible to reach."

The Manning Award released its 2025 watch list list this week, and it includes some of the top names in college football such as Penn State's Drew Allar and LSU's Garrett Nussmeier. However, there was one notable quarterback missing: Arch Manning of the Texas Longhorns.

The Texas Longhorns will open the 2025 football season in front of a packed Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium, as every ticket for the home slate is officially gone. The program’s official account called it “the hottest ticket in town” when announcing the sellout, a sign of the anticipation building in Austin.