Texas' College Football Playoff aspirations suffer a significant blow following Arch Manning's Heisman Trophy prospects dwindling after the Longhorns' loss to Ohio State.

In a closely contested match, Texas managed only 70 total yards in the first half and scored their only touchdown with 3:28 remaining in the game. The Longhorns ultimately fell to Ohio State in a 14-7 loss, marking a challenging start to the 2023 college football season for the team.

Despite the loss, Texas' National Championship odds have not drastically changed, currently at +900 at DraftKings. This is due in part to the fact that Arch Manning, the highly-touted quarterback and preseason Heisman favorite, was making his first road start against the defending national champions. As expected, Manning's debut in a deafening environment was likely to have growing pains for a first-year starter.

Manning completed 17-of-30 passes for 170 yards in his debut, leading to the close loss. He also demonstrated potential with his rushing ability, amassing 80 yards on 16 carries. However, Manning struggled to move the ball through the air against Ohio State's defense, particularly on crucial third downs. One notable miscue occurred when he missed a wide-open drag route on third-and-5 and underthrew star receiver Ryan Wingo.

Meanwhile, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin had a solid debut, completing 13-of-20 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown. This strong performance improved Sayin's Heisman odds to +1800. Ohio State strengthened its position as favourites for the National Championship, moving from +600 to +500 after their win against Texas.

As for the Heisman Trophy race, LSU's Garrett Nussmeier and Clemson's Cade Klubnik are now co-favourites for the award at +700, with Manning trailing behind. However, it's worth noting that only two first-year starters have ever won the Heisman Trophy, and no one has done it since 2013.

Looking ahead, the expanded 12-team playoff bracket offers Texas a chance to right the ship following their loss to Ohio State. Penn State, with an experienced quarterback Drew Allar and a strong RB tandem in Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton, is currently a strong contender for the National Championship at +700.

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Texas Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian emphasised that expectations for Manning were "out of control" externally and urged fans to judge the season as a whole rather than one game, framing the debut as just "one chapter" in 2025. Under Sarkisian, the Longhorns had improved each year and entered the 2025 season ranked No. 1 nationally with ambitions driven by Manning.

As the college football season progresses, fans and analysts will be eagerly watching Arch Manning's development and Texas' response to their opening loss. The stage is set for an exciting season of competition.