All eyes were on Arch Manning as he took the field for the Texas Longhorns’ much-anticipated 2025 season opener against the powerhouse Ohio State Buckeyes. For months, the buzz had been building—could the latest quarterback from the legendary Manning family live up to the sky-high expectations? With NFL scouts from 22 teams, including the quarterback-hungry Pittsburgh Steelers and the ever-watchful Dallas Cowboys, crowding the stands in Columbus, the stakes couldn’t have been higher for the young signal-caller.
Yet, the debut didn’t quite go as planned for Manning or the Longhorns. Facing a relentless Ohio State defense, Manning struggled to find his rhythm, and Texas fell short in a 14-7 loss to the No. 3 ranked Buckeyes. The defeat dropped the Longhorns to 0-1 on the season and likely set the stage for a shakeup in the national rankings, with Ohio State poised to climb to the top spot while Texas slips down the ladder.
Manning’s stat line told a story of both promise and growing pains. He completed 17 of 30 passes for 170 yards, tossing one touchdown and one interception. On the ground, he scrambled 10 times for 38 yards, showing flashes of the athleticism that has made him such a tantalizing prospect. But turnovers and shaky short-game accuracy revealed the inexperience that comes with stepping into the spotlight as a full-time starter for the first time.
“It’s about the athleticism running the ball, and the potential throwing the ball that we have seen his entire career,” wrote one analyst, underscoring why Manning’s hype isn’t just about his famous last name. But after Saturday’s performance, the early-season Heisman frontrunner and projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 or 2027 NFL Draft suddenly looked more mortal than mythic.
The NFL scouting contingent in Columbus was especially interested in Manning’s performance, none more so than the Pittsburgh Steelers. With Aaron Rodgers nearing the end of his illustrious career and the front office led by general manager Omar Khan openly exploring future options, the Steelers are widely expected to target a franchise quarterback in the next draft or two. Their presence at the opener was a clear signal: Manning was under the microscope.
However, the Steelers may have left Ohio unimpressed. According to reports, “there’s little chance they left the game feeling great about his current placement.” Manning and the Texas offense looked overwhelmed for much of the afternoon, and while the final score was close, the play on the field didn’t reflect a neck-and-neck contest. The Steelers’ calculus could now shift: do they wait for Manning to mature and potentially declare for the 2027 draft, or do they take their chances on another prospect in 2026?
“Pittsburgh will need to see him shine before they decide to avoid a quarterback in 2026 and wait until 2027. Otherwise, they’ll likely take their risk on a prospect coming out this coming spring,” noted one observer. The possibility of Aaron Rodgers returning for another season only adds another layer of intrigue to the Steelers’ quarterback search, leaving the door open for a delayed transition at the game’s most important position.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys are lurking as a potential suitor for Manning’s talents. Thanks to the blockbuster Micah Parsons trade, Dallas now boasts four first-round picks over the next two drafts, giving them the ammunition to move up in the draft order if they decide Manning is their quarterback of the future. With Dak Prescott’s age and recent injury history, the Cowboys’ front office is already weighing their options for 2026 and beyond.
But the road to Manning in a Cowboys uniform is far from straightforward. If he rebounds from his rocky opener and dominates the college football landscape, he could cement himself as the consensus first overall pick—a slot Dallas may not be able to reach, even with all their draft capital. On the flip side, if Manning’s struggles persist and the hype train derails, he could remain at Texas until 2027 and risk falling out of the top-15 in his draft class.
“Maybe Arch Manning is overrated, and his NFL future isn’t as bright as the hype has made it. In this scenario, he will likely stay at Texas until the 2027 NFL Draft, and struggle to crack the top-15 in that class,” speculated one analyst. Still, most caution against making sweeping judgments based on a single game. “One game, and especially not a debut as a full-time starter, does not dictate that. Expect the Arch Manning buzz to continue until he does reach the NFL, and if that destination is Dallas, it may never go down.”
Of course, the Manning pedigree continues to loom large over every evaluation. As the nephew of NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning and the grandson of Archie Manning, Arch’s every move is scrutinized not just for what it means for Texas, but for what it could mean for the future of the NFL. The league isn’t about to move on from Manning anytime soon, even if his debut was less than dazzling.
For Texas fans, the loss to Ohio State stings, but there’s still plenty of football left in the season. Manning’s ability to bounce back from adversity will be crucial, not just for the Longhorns’ hopes but for his own draft stock and legacy. The pressure is immense, but so is the opportunity. If Manning can iron out the kinks in his game, regain his confidence, and lead Texas to a strong finish, all the early doubts could fade away as quickly as they appeared.
For now, the NFL’s quarterback carousel keeps spinning. The Steelers, Cowboys, and a host of other teams will keep a close eye on Manning’s development, weighing every throw, every scramble, and every decision. Will he fulfill the family legacy and become a franchise cornerstone? Or will the hype prove too heavy a burden to bear?
With the season just underway and the NFL draft picture far from settled, the only certainty is that the Arch Manning story is just getting started. As speculation swirls and scouts take notes, the next chapter will unfold on the gridiron, where legends are made—or unmade—one snap at a time.