With each passing week in the NCAA college football, much attention is given to first-year quarterbacks. In any given sports competition, young talents rise to the occasion or shrink from it. However, there is something new being seen by this year’s freshman quarterbacks participants, especially Nebraska Dylan Raiola and Texas Arch Manning. Their current performances are catching the eyes of the fans and professional analysts who are already eyeing their plans.

Heisman voter and arguably one of the most accurate college football predictors, Brett Ciancia recently dropped some gems in an episode of the Carriker Chronicles podcast on YouTube. During the Power 5 quarterbacks discussion, he said, “Running the ball, like we mentioned, passing I have 30th so about middle of the pack passing the ball. Now that’s with a true freshman QB, and he’s impressed me. When you narrow it down to just freshman Power 5 QBs, he is right there with Arch Manning, Eli Holstein from the pit, and Nico from Tennessee, and a couple of those guys are red shirts anyway. So talking true freshmen, it’s unbelievable what he’s been able to do so far.”

These words have more value when they are spoken by someone who seems to have his finger on the pulse of college football. Thus Ciancia’s appreciation for Raiola means that he is not just an emerging player to keep tabs on, he is a trait that could entirely transform the expectations for a first-year quarterback.

Raiola has passed for 1,358 yards, nine touchdowns & three interceptions, proving his ability to throw the ball when it matters. Arch Manning was not quite with 901 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions, but enough to show what has installed which is impressive.

The future of the game for Dylan Raiola and Arch Manning

Statistically, the results tell a lot about them, though it is how they perform under pressure that counts most. Manning has already created the hype, and so is Raiola, so the two have a chance at making history. Everything they do, shows that they are fighting to live, but, with a little push, they are fighting to thrive. According to Ciancia, the two have hinted at a readiness for the spotlight; both are quarterbacks who are set to steer their teams toward the win.

On the way to achieving new records, including the Heisman Trophy, Dylan Raiola will have to compete in the On3 Heisman Poll rankings. Some of the favorites are Cam Ward from Miami, Jeremiah Smith from the Ohio State University, and Kurtis Rourke from Indiana. Further, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe and Ryan Williams are on equal footing in sixth position. Arch and Raiola will have to show more than these young stars to guarantee a place among the favorites in this race.

As the season progresses, all eyes will be on these two young gunslingers. This point will determine their ability to transform their teams not only for the better but also for the future of college football. And with Heisman voters like Ciancia putting them on its list, the pressure to perform will just rise even more. It is very risky for both parties, but I think that Raiola, as well as Manning, may consider it.

Can they keep winning the necessary games or do the demands of College Football programs defeat them?