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Arch Manning and the future of Texas Longhorns football
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Bettors Beware: Arch Manning Changing Future Of Texas Football

Josie Costigan Published on: Aug 04, 2023 1:29 PM ET

If you have any relation to a football legend, let alone three of them, you're automatically assumed to be a generational star, too. That's the exact case for Texas Longhorns' Arch Manning, nephew of Eli and Peyton and grandson of Archie Manning. 

manning Making moves

The 18-year-old has yet to throw a pigskin in a true college football game. Yet he is already holding +7500 odds to win the Heisman Trophy as a freshman and helping the Longhorns sit at noble +1700 odds to win the National Championship. 

He's front and centre in the spotlight, already signing an NIL deal with Panini American, a trading card company. The rookie signed his first card that sold at auction for over $100,000. His names, image and likeness valuation is estimated around $3.7-million, making him the fourth athlete to be evaluated over three-million alongside Livvy Dunne, Mikey Williams and Bronny James, LeBron James' son. 

how to bet on texas longhorns in 2023

As a word of caution, be wary of the hype. Manning will still have to wait his turn ahead of Texas starting quarterback, Quinn Ewers. Last season, Steve Sarkisian's squad finished with a lacklustre 8-5 overall record. In fact, the Longhorns haven't tasted double-digit wins since 2018 (10-4). 

Put it this way, it's hard to expect a recent high school graduate to make an immediate impact. But... it's also hard to bet against a Manning. I believe the recent Isidore Newman high school graduate will have natural skill, but I would stray from betting on him clinching a national title next season.

Can he potentially be the first true freshman to win a Heisman? Crazier things have happened. But, he won''t be getting all the playing time and will be forced to share the field with Ewers, which could interfere with his potential numbers and showcase.

If there's a realistic bet to make that Manning would positively impact, it would be betting on Texas' win total, which is currently set at 9.5 wins. Truthfully, if Ewers didn't get injured in Week 2 last season and be forced to miss three full games, I think the Longhorns could've hit that number in 2022. With a healthy Ewers and a stable backup in Manning? 10 wins should be a reasonable feat. 

Oddsmakers already have Texas locked in as clear favorites to win the Big 12 championship (-105), it would be its first conference title win since 2009. It would also be the Longhorns last chance to do it before using the realignment to move to the SEC.

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Moving to the Southeastern Conference in 2024 won't be a simple adjustment. Texas will be competing against some of college football's finest like the Georgia Bulldogs, Alabama Crimson Tide, Tennessee Volunteers, LSU Tigers and Florida Gators. Without even mentioning the rest, we already know that conference is stacked to the brim. An SEC program has appeared in each season of the CFP era, the conference holds a 6-1 semi-final record and a 3-3 record in the national championship.

It'll be good exposure for Texas and even better exposure for Manning, who will look to show he can compete with the best in his collegiate career. 

As if you weren't already, but i'll reiterate anyways, keep close tabs on Manning. We'll get a better glimpse into the future after the first few weeks. Regardless, the Longhorns will be improving. 

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