The Texas Longhorns achieved a lot in their first season in the SEC, making the conference title game and the College Football Playoff.
Joel Klatt believes in the Longhorns, and on a recent edition of “The Joel Klatt Show,” he put them at No. 2 in his post-spring top 25. The only team ahead of Texas was the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Advertisement
Texas will enter a new era at quarterback in 2025, with Arch Manning expected to start now that Quinn Ewers is in the NFL.
Manning played in 10 games last season with two starts, leading his team to wins over UL Monroe and the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) warms up. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Manning came in for the injured Ewers against UTSA in Week 3. Ewers initially suffered a torn oblique in the win over the Michigan Wolverines, but played in the following game.
He aggravated the injury against UTSA and was forced to exit.
Manning stepped in and delivered, with 223 passing yards and five total touchdowns. He threw for 258 passing yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in the UL Monroe game and 325 passing yards and two touchdowns against Mississippi State.
Advertisement
Texas went 11-1 during the regular season to clinch a spot in the SEC Championship Game. The Longhorns lost to the Georgia Bulldogs, but were still the No. 5 seed in the playoff.
After beating the Clemson Tigers and Arizona State Sun Devils, Texas reached the semifinal. However, the Longhorns lost 28-14 to the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Buckeyes beat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 34-23 to win the national championship.
Texas opens the 2025 season against Ohio State on Aug. 30.
Related: Joel Klatt Names One Player He’d Take in 2026 NFL Draft Over Arch Manning
