Arch Manning is widely considered the favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft if he leaves the Texas Longhorns after the 2025 season. Will we seen the highly-hyped quarterback on an NFL sideline next fall? In the words of one legendary college football broadcaster: not so fast, my friend .

The hype around Arch Manning has reached an all-time high with the college football season just weeks away. From bold Heisman projections to mock drafts crowning him the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the University of Texas quarterback has already been put on a high pedestal — despite having seen limited action on the field.

Owens is a big-armed former four-star recruit who saw a few snaps last season as a true freshman. Lacey, a four-star recruit from the 2025 class, was Mr. Football in the state of Alabama last year. Then there's Bell, a top 10 player in the 2026 class and someone who, by 2027, will be a redshirt freshman in Austin.