The countdown is nearly over, and college football fans across the nation are buzzing with anticipation for what’s being billed as the most electrifying regular-season opener in a decade. On August 30, 2025, the Texas Longhorns, perched atop the preseason rankings, will march into Ohio Stadium to face the defending national champion and No. 3-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. The stakes? Nothing less than early supremacy, Heisman hopes, and perhaps the trajectory of the entire season.
At the heart of this high-octane clash is Arch Manning, Texas’ new starting quarterback and the latest to carry the weighty legacy of football’s royal family. Manning, grandson of Archie and nephew to Peyton and Eli, was the nation’s No. 1 overall recruit in 2023. After two years of waiting in the wings behind Quinn Ewers, the 21-year-old is finally stepping into the spotlight—and what a stage he’s chosen for his debut as QB1.
Yet, if you ask Manning, he’s not feeling the pressure of being the hunted. In a candid August 25 interview, he flipped the script on expectations. “I think (that target) is always at Texas,” Manning said. “We try to shift the narrative. We’re going for everyone else. The target’s not on our back—we have a red dot on everyone else.” It’s a hunter’s mentality, not a hunted one, and it’s emblematic of the confidence pulsing through the Longhorns’ locker room.
Despite their No. 1 ranking, Texas enters the Horseshoe as a 2.5-point underdog, according to BetMGM.com. It’s a rare scenario: the first time since at least 1978 that a preseason No. 1 isn’t favored in its opening game. The oddsmakers’ skepticism only adds fuel to the fire for Manning and his teammates, who are eager to prove they deserve the top spot.
The Buckeyes, meanwhile, are not lacking in star power or storylines. Ohio State is No. 2 in the USA Today US LBM Coaches Poll and boasts a new starting quarterback of their own: Julian Sayin, the highly touted Alabama transfer and former five-star prospect. Sayin emerged from a fierce offseason battle to claim the job and will have his chance to shine in front of more than 100,000 roaring fans in Columbus.
Both teams are loaded with talent and expectations. Texas is coming off a run to the SEC Championship Game in its first year in the league, and head coach Steve Sarkisian has called this “the deepest and most talented defense that we’ve had.” Optimism in Austin hasn’t soared this high since the days of Vince Young and Colt McCoy. The last time Texas visited Columbus, Young led the Longhorns to a 25-22 victory—a pivotal moment in their undefeated 2005 campaign that ended with a national title.
Manning’s journey to this moment has been anything but ordinary. Growing up surrounded by NFL legends, playoff games, and Super Bowl rings, his life has always been under the microscope. But he’s quick to remind people he’s just a regular guy. “I feel like I’m a pretty normal guy,” Manning told reporters at SEC Media Days. “I like to hang out with my buddies. Golf. I take football pretty seriously. Other than that, just a regular guy.”
That humility is matched by a steely resolve and maturity beyond his years. Sarkisian has praised Manning’s even-keeled demeanor and leadership qualities, noting, “He’s very quick-witted. He’s got a great sense of humor about himself, and he’s OK to laugh at himself. We all talk about resiliency and grit and all those things that are needed when adversity strikes, but I think some of that resiliency can come from remaining calm. Arch definitely has that about him. He’s a great guy. He’s a great teammate. He’s got an unbelievable work ethic.”
Manning’s patience has been tested over the past two seasons, as he sat behind Ewers and watched the hype around him build. Lesser players might have transferred, but the Mannings value development—and now, the payoff could be immense. “I learned so much from Quinn in my two years behind him,” Manning shared. “It’s definitely not easy having me as the backup with all the media. I’m forever grateful for him. I actually texted him the other week for advice on two-minute, what kind of plays he likes to start with.”
Statistically, Manning’s limited action last year showed promise: he completed 61 of 90 passes for nine touchdowns and two interceptions. He even made a brief appearance in last year’s College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Cotton Bowl—ironically, in a 28-14 loss to Ohio State—carrying the ball once for eight yards. Now, with the starting job his, the expectations are sky-high.
And it’s not just Texas fans watching. Manning enters the season as the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, with +500 odds at Caesars Sportsbook. The Heisman race is already heating up, with other contenders like LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier (+700), Clemson’s Cade Klubnik (+800), and Ohio State’s own star receiver Jeremiah Smith (+1000) all looking to make a statement in Week 1. But as CBS Sports analyst Thomas Casale put it, “Manning has the narrative of being related to Peyton and Eli. He also has the opportunity with two massive games against Ohio State and Georgia scheduled perfectly. If Texas wins, the hype around Manning will approach Tim Tebow level.”
For Ohio State, the spotlight is just as intense. Sayin’s debut as the Buckeyes’ starter has drawn plenty of attention, and a strong performance could catapult him into the Heisman conversation as well. “Sayin isn’t getting much love right now, but we could see a major move in his odds if the Buckeyes win and he plays well,” Casale noted.
The magnitude of Saturday’s game can’t be overstated. “I think it’s the biggest college football regular-season game in a decade,” said Colin Cowherd on "The Joel Klatt Show." “This is a prize fight. This is gigantic.” The expanded College Football Playoff means that an early loss isn’t necessarily a death knell for either team’s championship hopes, but the winner will seize the narrative—and a crucial confidence boost—heading into a grueling season.
Manning, for his part, is keeping his focus simple: “I’m just here to play football. That’s what I want my focus to be.”
As kickoff approaches, the anticipation is palpable. Will Manning rise to the occasion and cement his place among college football’s elite? Or will Ohio State’s home-field advantage and Sayin’s fresh leadership prove too much for the Longhorns? One thing’s for sure: when the whistle blows in Columbus, the entire college football world will be watching.
