Arch Manning tenure as Texas’ full-time starting quarterback begins with a bang on August 30, when the Longhorns travel to Ohio State in a rematch of College football Playoff semifinals. It won’t be the first start of his career, but it will be his first as the program’s undisputed QB1 following Wednesday’s announcement that Quinn Ewers says for 2025 NFL Draft.
From there, things brighten up considerably for Texas, which is set to begin the 2025 season. as a top-five teamdespite the losses of several offensive linemen and a handful of key pass catchers. Only two of Texas’ eight SEC opponents finished the 2024 season with a winning record against league competition.
Between facing the Buckeyes in Week 1 and a showdown at Georgia In Week 12, the Longhorns won’t see a single opponent who finished the 2024 season ranked in the CFP Top 25. However, there will still be some high-pressure moments for Manning, whose only starts so far have been. against outmatched enemies Louisiana-Monroe And Mississippi State while Ewers suffered from an oblique injury.
Among the key competitions will be a showdown with the rising star quarterback DJ Lagway has Florida on October 4, followed by the very important Red River Rivalry competition with Oklahoma the following week. Texas is expected to compete for the SEC title and return to the CFP as Manning takes over after two seasons as Ewers’ understudy.
Is it practical? Here’s a look at how Texas’ 2024 season could play out with Manning leading the way
Texas Football Schedule 2025
| Date | Opponent | Record 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| August 30 | in the state of Ohio | 13-2 |
| September 6 | San Jose State | 7-5 |
| September 13 | UEP | 3-9 |
| September 27 | Sam Houston State | 10-3 |
| October 4 | in Florida | 8-5 |
| October 11 | Oklahoma (Dallas) | 6-7 |
| October 18 | in Kentucky | 4-8 |
| October 25 | in the state of Mississippi | 2-10 |
| November 1 | Vanderbilt | 7-6 |
| November 15 | in Georgia | 11-3 |
| November 22 | Arkansas | 7-6 |
| November 29 | Texas A&M | 8-5 |
Start of the blockbuster
Games (1): at Ohio State (August 30)
Ohio State is expected to lose considerable production from its defense, as the Buckeyes currently have six defenders ranked in the top 100 in the rankings. Ranking CBS Sports 2025 NFL Draft Prospects. But the Longhorns will also bring in several new offensive players at key positions when they head to the Horseshoe to open the 2025 season for a blockbuster game. So, it will be a litmus test for two revamped units after the Buckeyes’ defense got the better of the Ewers-led Longhorns in key moments in the Cotton Bowl.
Manning has completed 63 of 95 career passes with nine touchdowns and two interceptions. But none of these passing attempts took place in a real road environment. Although he recorded three runs at Texas A&M in November, he did not attempt a pass at Kyle Field. Asking any quarterback — even one with Manning’s talent — to win at Ohio State in his first career road start is a tall order.
Projected record: 0-1
September slowdown
Games (3): against. San Jose State (September 6), against. UEP (September 13), c. Sam Houston (September 27)
September is a chance for Texas to take a deep breath, build some chemistry and prepare for the heat of SEC play. The Longhorns can basically treat the month like a NFL team could approach preseason. To be honest, these three opponents just bowled. But none of the three have the talent to compete with the Longhorns over the course of a 60-minute game.
Texas should be favored with three or more touchdowns in each game, and Manning should be able to take command of the offense during this stretch while developing connections with his receivers. Although Manning is a capable runner, coach Steve Sarkisian would be smart to try to ease the wear and tear on his star quarterback with a five-week streak against SEC competition looming. The ideal scenario would be for Manning’s day to end early in each of these games as the Longhorns lean on a talented backcourt after building big early leads.
Projected record: 3-0
October Highlights
Games (2): in Florida (October 4), against Oklahoma (October 11)
Grab your popcorn, because the Week 6 showdown between quarterback Arch Manning and DJ Lagway will be must-see TV. The match is a NFL A scout’s dream as it will feature arguably the two most talented quarterbacks in the sport in a high-stakes SEC game. Florida closed the 2024 season on a four-game winning streak, including victories against LSU And Ole Mademoiselle with Lagway as quarterback. It may be tempting for some Texas fans to view the game as a win given the Gators’ lack of competitiveness in a 49-17 loss at Texas in 2024. But that game happened before Lagway took the starting position, and the 2025 contest will be played in hostile territory.
Next comes the all-important game against Oklahoma. The Sooners will be eager to shed the misery of the lifeless 34-3 loss to Texas in 2024 as they turn the page in year three under coach Brent Venables. OR brings Washington State transfer John Mateer at quarterback, making this another exciting QB matchup. Look for Manning to establish his Heisman Trophy candidacy during this stretch.
Projected record: 2-0
Mid-season malaise
Games (3): at Kentucky (October 18), in the State of Mississippi (October 25), against. Vanderbilt (November 1)
Texas should be more than a touchdown favorite in each of these conference games, but they won’t necessarily be easy. The stretch is sandwiched between the Red River rivalry and a huge game against Georgia, which will put pressure on Sarkisian and Manning to keep the Longhorns focused. Texas beat Kentucky and Mississippi State without much trouble in 2024. But after occupying the league’s cellars, both have nowhere to go but up in 2025.
Then there’s Vanderbilt. With the star quarterback Diego Pavie successfully sue NCAA for additional eligibilitythe Commodores prove difficult once again. The Longhorns earned a 27-24 win at Nashville in 2024 and should expect a similar challenge from the Dores in 2025. A few deflected passes led to two costly interceptions from Ewers in that matchup. Tip passes have been a season-long problem for the Longhorns, and Manning’s mobility and pocket presence should help solve that problem in 2025.
Projected record: 3-0
Tense finale
Games (3): in Georgia (November 15), against. Arkansas (November 22), vs. Texas A&M (November 29)
The final stretch begins with a brutal road trip to face what should be a hungry Georgia team. After back-to-back seasons without reaching the CFP semifinals, the Bulldogs will be eager to reclaim their place atop college football. Georgia has beaten Texas on the road twice in 2024, and Sanford Stadium should be in rare shape as the Longhorns travel to Athens, Georgia, for the first time ever.
The Arkansas and Texas A&M games will each be tough rivalry contests. The Aggies and defensive-minded head coach Mike Elko will want to try to stifle Manning’s production, especially if he enters the final week of the regular season in contention for the Heisman Trophy. However, both games are at home and the Longhorns should be favored in each of them.
Projected record: 2-1
In summary
The successful start and the rivalry-fueled finish will each bring their share of challenges. But Texas gets six of the SEC’s bottom seven teams in the 2024 conference standings and misses potentially thorny league foes like AlabamaLSU, Tennessee and Ole Miss. It’s a manageable enough roster to expect Manning to lead the Longhorns to a 10-2 mark. That would be enough to get Texas to the College Football Playoff (and potentially the SEC Championship Game). Manning’s mobility and leadership give Texas a golden opportunity to build on the strong foundation built by Ewers over the past two seasons.
Projected record: 10-2