There was a big chunk of the school soccer world that thought Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning was going to dominate heading into the 2025 season.
What Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza did with the Indiana Hoosiers, many “within the know” anticipated out of Manning. Maybe it was as a result of he was the previous consensus No. 1 total recruit within the nation. Or maybe it was simply due to his well-known final identify.
Both approach, Manning wasn’t horrible in 2025, however he did have some critical moments of wrestle. Somewhat than wanting dominant in his first yr because the starter at Texas, he seemed like a quarterback who wanted time to determine it out.
It was an up-and-down marketing campaign, however these rising pains are why ESPN faculty soccer analyst Kirk Herbstreit believes Manning can be “the man” in 2026.
“He lived it, he skilled it, he survived it,” Herbstreit said of Manning on On3’s “Crain and Cone” podcast. “I’ll be shocked, when the mud settles, if he’s not the man within the class.”
Arch Manning is among the many high faculty soccer quarterbacks heading into 2026
Manning may have some stiff competitors on the subject of the chase to be the highest quarterback in faculty soccer in 2026.
Ohio State‘s Julian Sayin was a Heisman Trophy finalist this previous season, and Oregon‘s Dante Moore was proper on the surface wanting in at that elite group of gamers.
Drew Mestemaker has an opportunity to place up some wild numbers after he adopted head coach Eric Morris to Oklahoma State. It is also going to be actually attention-grabbing to see what Sam Leavitt can do with LSU and what Darian Mensah can do now that he is left Duke and is formally with Miami.
Manning, unquestionably, has high-level expertise as each a passer and a runner. He additionally, in fact, has the pedigree.
Manning threw for 3,163 yards and 26 touchdowns in comparison with seven interceptions this previous season, whereas additionally speeding for 399 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Can he put all of it collectively in 2026 and turn out to be the perfect of the perfect? Herbstreit is definitely relying on it.
