The 2024 season was full of “nepo-baby” attacks. From brothers Shedeur and Shilo Sanders to Arch Manning, no one escaped the trolls. For the Sanders brothers, the college football chapter is officially over; they’ve moved to the pros. It’s now time for the Manning legacy flagbearer to prove himself. Almost everyone has him pegged as the next No. 1 overall pick, but not all analysts are sure that’ll happen. Just as the 21-year-old must be locking himself up, watching his NFL hype get snatched by a $200k Big 10 quarterback, someone thought to lift his mood. Looks like Manning can start preparing for his Heisman speech.

The former No. 1 overall recruit signed with the Longhorns as the second-highest rated recruit in program history behind Vince Young. Manning had his first two starts in Steve Sarkisian’s squad last season. Even though he had limited action, Manning came up with a 66.3% completion rate, racking up 969 yards and 9 touchdowns. The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder also gifted Longhorns fans two rushing touchdowns. Now that Quinn Ewers has flown off to the NFL, Manning is now on the steering wheel of the Longhorns wagon. And what better motivation than to taste some Heisman hype?

That’s when the anonymous SEC coach took entry. On May 23, SEC Mike tweeted the coach’s review on Manning, “The belief is that Arch Manning will elevate the offense immediately, & you can expect a much more dynamic scheme from Sark.”

Manning’s secret admirer then continued, “This kid is a legit, Heisman-level package. Provided he produces at that level, the offense will be even better.” The coach doubled down on what Paul Finebaum, one of the most critical people in college football, said about the Texas star. “Book it. Arch Manning is going to win the Heisman.” Still worried about the hype? Let’s take a look at Manning’s 2024 tour.

Do you remember how the quarterback came up with flying colors during a tough 4th down against Texas A&M? His accuracy and aggressiveness as a thrower when on the move really stood out. Manning started to grow his doubters’ list after Greg McElroy was not ready to tab him as a top-10 quarterback. 

Maybe he felt the young chap could only prove himself against easier teams. For example, he played against UT San Antonio, which had a weak pass defense, and Louisiana-Monroe, which also had a low-ranked overall defense. But it’s high time to pull down the blinders. Manning’s accuracy, athleticism, and aggressiveness make working from the pocket a cakewalk. Plus, he constantly and promptly finds a throwing position. His ability to stay balanced is a true standout trait. And how can we miss his tidy footwork? Now that he is back in the good books again, let’s hope he can get his seat back in the NFL buzz. Right now, it has been assigned to the Indiana transfer. 

Arch Manning’s NFL dream shaken by an Indiana surprise

Manning is carrying blue blood. Starting from his grandfather, Archie Manning, to his uncles, Peyton and Eli Manning, they have proved themselves in the pro league. Archie was drafted No. 2 overall out of Ole Miss. Later on, his uncles Eli and Peyton Manning made their father proud by landing as the No.1 overall pick in their respective drafts. While Arch will not be eligible until the 2026 NFL Draft, the New Orleans Saints come off as the strongest pursuer.

As a Saints insider tweeted, “By the 2026 NFL Draft, the Saints could be looking for a young quarterback to replace Derek Carr.” So, with this, Manning must already be flying on cloud nine, just when he was brought to the ground.

Looks like he doesn’t need to be scared of the known ones. As an unlikely name, Fernando Mendoza comes off as his big threat. Not just the NFL, he is also coming off as a dark horse in the NIL race, holding a valuation of $200k. YahooSports made a post where the caption read, “Nate Ice has Fernando Mendoza as his QB1 in the 2026 NFL Draft over Arch Manning.” But what made Ice count on Mendoza, stealing away the spotlight from Manning? 

Like Arch Manning, Mendoza doesn’t have an extensive track record, but he has more starting experience. The California Golden Bears product appeared in 20 games in 2023 and 2024. Ahead of the 2025 season, he transferred to the Indiana Hoosiers. Under a coach like Curt Cignetti, who led Indiana to its first 8–0 start since 1967, and with his strong arm talent and consistent accuracy, Mendoza is likely to push himself to meet all the requirements for entry into the NFL Draft. Will Manning let the pressure define him—or will he rise, focused and fierce, to define his own legacy?