Texas Longhorns QB Arch Manning Gets Dissed By His Own Family Ahead Of 2025 College Football Season

By all accounts, expectations are sky high for Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning in 2025.

The Longhorns begin the season ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll for the first time in program history, and Manning is considered one of, if not the favorite to take home the Heisman Trophy.

But despite the hype coming from seemingly every direction, one group of people isn’t letting Manning get a big head: his own family.

Arch Manning Doesn’t Make The Manning Award Watch List

Manning is, of course, the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning and grandson of Archie Manning, all of whom played in the NFL and the first two at a (likely) Hall of Fame level.

But when the preseason watch list for the 2025 Manning Award, named for the three elder Mannings and given to the nation’s top quarterback, came out on Thursday, Arch Manning’s name was noticeably absent.

Now, that doesn’t mean that Arch can’t win the award.

“We’re looking forward to another exciting year of college football,” Archie Manning said in a press release. “I’d like to thank the Sugar Bowl for continuing to build the tradition of the Manning Award which now has over 20 years of honoring the top quarterbacks in the country for the entire football season. This year we have another great group on our preseason Watch List; in October, we’ll review the transfers and other newcomers and then boost the Watch List with the best from that group.”

Leaving Arch Manning Off Manning Award List May Have Been Strategic

Now, it’s very easy to explain Arch Manning’s absence. All 27 quarterbacks listed were regular starters in 2024. But Arch spent the year sitting behind Quinn Ewers, who is now with the Miami Dolphins of the NFL.

But there may have also been an ulterior motive. The Manning family has been very pointed in making sure Arch remains humble and plays the long game.

Just recently, Archie Manning said that his grandson will likely remain at Texas for two more seasons. That’s despite the fact that he’s eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Leaving him off the watch list could serve as yet another reminder that any accolades must be earned, not given