Texas' Arch Manning Skipped in Top Five of Latest QB Ranking

The Longhorns star needs to prove the naysayers wrong in the 2026 season.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Arch Manning, the highly touted Texas quarterback, was ranked No. 6 in Bleacher Report's College Football's Top 25 QBs for 2026 list, surprising many who expected him to be among the top five. The ranking was influenced by Manning's inconsistent 2025 season, the depth of talent at the quarterback position for 2026, and the emphasis some evaluators place on surrounding talent, offensive systems, and projected development.

Why it matters

As one of the most recognizable names in college football and the current way-too-early Heisman Trophy favorite, Manning's ranking outside the top five will serve as motivation for him to prove the naysayers wrong in the 2026 season. The quarterback landscape for 2026 is unusually deep, with several dynamic returners and impact transfers ahead of Manning in the rankings.

The details

In Bleacher Report's College Football's Top 25 QBs for 2026 list, Ohio State's Julian Sayin was ranked No. 1, followed by Ole Miss' Trinidad Chambliss, Oregon's Dante Moore, Miami's Darian Mensah, and LSU's Sam Leavitt. Manning was ranked No. 6 on the list. Some analysts noted that while Manning finished the 2025 season strongly, his early-season struggles tempered the preseason hype around him. Additionally, the depth of talent at the quarterback position for 2026, including top-ranked prospects like Sayin, Chambliss, and Moore, influenced the rankings, with some evaluators weighing surrounding talent, offensive systems, and projected development more heavily.

  • Arch Manning enters the 2026 season with momentum from the end of the 2025 season.
  • Week 2 of the 2026 season will feature a matchup between Texas and Ohio State, with several NFL evaluators in attendance to watch both Manning and Sayin.

The players

Arch Manning

The highly touted Texas quarterback and current way-too-early Heisman Trophy favorite.

Julian Sayin

The Ohio State quarterback who was ranked No. 1 in Bleacher Report's College Football's Top 25 QBs for 2026 list.

Trinidad Chambliss

The Ole Miss quarterback who was ranked No. 2 in the Bleacher Report list and needed a court order to be eligible in 2026.

Dante Moore

The Oregon quarterback who was ranked No. 3 in the Bleacher Report list after putting off the NFL for another year.

Darian Mensah

The Miami quarterback who was ranked No. 4 in the Bleacher Report list and takes over for the exiting Carson Beck.

Sam Leavitt

The LSU quarterback who was ranked No. 5 in the Bleacher Report list for his first season under Lane Kiffin in Baton Rouge.

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What’s next

Week 2 will be another Texas-Ohio State matchup. You can except fireworks from both Sayin and Manning with several NFL evaluators in attendance.

The takeaway

Arch Manning's ranking outside the top five in the Bleacher Report's College Football's Top 25 QBs for 2026 list serves as motivation for the Texas star to prove the naysayers wrong in the upcoming season. The depth of talent at the quarterback position for 2026, as well as the emphasis some evaluators place on factors like surrounding talent and offensive systems, have contributed to Manning's lower-than-expected ranking.