Arch Manning is heading into 2026 with Texas expected to chase another College Football Playoff run, but not everybody is ready to put him in the SEC’s top tier just yet.
USA TODAY Sports writer Blake Toppmeyer stirred the pot this week with his ranking of the conference’s quarterbacks, and Manning did not land at No. 1. That spot went to Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, with Georgia’s Gunner Stockton also slotted ahead of Manning.
For Texas fans, that’s the kind of list that gets attention fast.
Toppmeyer was especially high on Chambliss, calling him “a proven star” and describing him as “one of college football’s biggest stars, a charismatic dual threat with Heisman Trophy potential.”
Stockton’s placement over Manning came with its own reasoning, too. Toppmeyer pointed to the way Georgia and Texas matched up last season, writing, “Stockton elevates in the big games. He outplayed Arch Manning in their head-to-head duel last November.”
That’s a tough line for Manning, but it’s not without basis. His 2025 season got off to an uneven start, and the preseason buzz around him often ran ahead of what he was actually showing on the field. By the finish, though, the trajectory had changed.
Manning looked much more like the player Texas had been waiting for, and his best stretch included the Citrus Bowl win over Michigan, where he flashed the athleticism and improvisational skill that made him one of the sport’s most anticipated quarterbacks.
Toppmeyer noted that turnaround, writing, “Manning finished last season much better than he started it,” and adding that Manning is “an excellent runner who needs more consistency as a passer.”
That’s the heart of the conversation now. Nobody is questioning the talent. The question is whether Manning can put it together snap after snap against the best defenses he’ll see in the SEC.
Texas has given him help, too, surrounding him with more offensive weapons as Steve Sarkisian shapes the roster for another playoff push.
And the schedule gives Manning a direct shot at changing the narrative. Texas will host Ole Miss and Chambliss on Oct. 24 in Austin, a game that could turn into one of the SEC’s marquee quarterback matchups.
If Manning delivers the way Texas expects him to in 2026, the rankings will fade pretty quickly.
In the end, there’s only one answer that really shuts down the debate.
Win.
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