Arch Manning’s rise and a loaded stable of blue-chip talent vault the Longhorns' signal-callers to elite status, blending Heisman potential with the nation's premier veteran depth.
The Texas Longhorns continue to collect preseason praise.
In a recent ranking from CBS Sports analyst Blake Brockermeyer, the Longhorns' quarterback room checked in at No. 2 nationally, trailing only Oregon. Texas finished ahead of Utah, Ole Miss, Ohio State, LSU, USC, Miami, Houston and Notre Dame.
That's not exactly a surprise when your starting quarterback is ... Arch Manning.
Manning enters his second season as Texas' full-time starter with momentum after a strong finish to his sophomore campaign, and Brockermeyer thinks another leap could be coming.
"Manning seemed to find his stride as last season progressed, and now he has a chance to take another major step with a more talented roster around him in 2026," wrote Brockermeyer.
Of course, quarterback rooms aren't always judged solely by the guy taking the first snap. If they were, half the country would have a top-10 room until someone twisted an ankle in September.
Depth matters, and that's where Brockermeyer believes Texas separates itself.
Veteran transfer MJ Morris brings 10 career starts across stops at NC State, Maryland and Coastal Carolina, giving head coach Steve Sarkisian an experienced insurance policy if the unthinkable were to happen.
Behind him, redshirt freshman KJ Lacey and true freshman Dia Bell give the Longhorns two highly regarded young quarterbacks — and each may eventually shape the program's future.
"The future of the room is just as interesting," Brockermeyer wrote. "Texas has two promising young gunslingers in Dia Bell and KJ Lacey, both of whom are talented enough to factor into the long-term picture."
Only Oregon earned a higher ranking, thanks to a quarterback room headlined by returning starter and possible top-three NFL Draft choice Dante Moore and former Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola.
It was the combination of proven production and experienced depth that pushed the Ducks into the top spot, and understandably so.
Still ... Texas isn't exactly hurting at signal caller.
Between Manning's continued development, Morris' veteran presence and the upside of Lacey and Bell, the Longhorns have certainly assembled one of the nation's deepest quarterback rooms.
If the position lives up to its billing, Sarkisian will have far bigger problems to solve this fall than figuring out who's taking snaps under center in an unfortunate circumstance where Manning needs some form of relief.
