The Arch Manning era finally begins in 2025 after the highly touted recruit spent the last two seasons behind Quinn Ewers on the depth chart, and he will lead a talented Texas Longhorns roster eyeing a national championship.

Manning threw for 939 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions in 2024, completing 67.8 percent of his throws while also adding 108 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns on 25 carries. A new-look offensive line will be tasked with protecting him, and the effectiveness of that group could make or break their season.

The Longhorns also reeled in the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class, with a trio of 5-star recruits in safety Jonah Williams, defensive lineman Jonah Terry and wide receiver Kaliq Lockett headlining a 25-player class.

The Ohio State Buckeyes (Julian Sayin), Georgia Bulldogs (Gunnar Stockton) and Oregon Ducks (Dante Moore) will each turn things over to a quarterback who spent the 2024 season holding a clipboard and learning the offense, though all three possess the pedigree and talent to steer the ship of a national title contender.

With stacked rosters around them, those quarterbacks will not be asked to do more than they are capable of next season, and even with average quarterback play each of those teams are still capable of being playoff contenders.

Meanwhile, the Penn State Nittany Lions title hopes were bolstered the moment quarterback Drew Allar announced he will be returning for his senior season, and he might be the way-too-early favorite to be the first quarterback off the board in the 2026 draft, ahead of LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and Clemson’s Cade Klubnik.

All five of those teams are losing key players this offseason, but their rosters are also stacked with high-level recruits ready to step into expanded roles. A lot can still change this offseason, and there are always more than a few surprises along the way as the season unfolds, but it would be a shock to see anyone from this top-five group sitting at home when the playoffs begin next year.

For now, a long offseason awaits.