Texas' Arch Manning Says CFB Preseason Talk Is 'Cheap,' Hype 'Doesn't Mean Anything'

Texas quarterback Arch Manning isn't concerned about any preseason hype as he readies for the 2025 season.

Speaking to reporters at SEC Media Days on Tuesday, Manning said all of the opinions circulating about his potential performance in 2025 don't "mean anything" as he prepares for his first full season as the Longhorns' starting quarterback.

Despite making only two starts last year, Manning tops the odds at DraftKings Sportsbook to win the Heisman Trophy (+650).

The top high school class of 2023 recruit is entering the season as Texas' QB1 for the first time after Quinn Ewers left for the NFL, so the hype is real now as the countdown toward Texas' opener against defending national champion Ohio State on Aug. 30 continues.

Manning impressed in limited action, completing 61-of-90 attempts for nine touchdowns (two interceptions) and 939 yards (10.4 yards per attempt). He also rushed for 108 yards and four more scores.

Now he holds the keys to the offense as Texas, which has made the College Football Playoff semifinals each of the past two seasons, looks to break through for its first national championship in 20 years.

The hype is there for Texas to do just that. Sporting News released its preseason composite Top 25 rankings, and Texas is No. 1. The publication gathered up rankings from 11 sources for the list, and Texas ranked anywhere from first to third on all of them.

The latest ESPN Football Power Index also has Texas first overall, ahead of Georgia and Alabama.

There's ultimately great belief that Manning could lead Texas to great heights, but it's clear he's focused on proving himself on the field and ignoring the outside noise.