Texas tops the preseason Top 25 with Arch Manning, but Georgia, Alabama, and Ohio State are close, putting pressure on the Longhorns to prove they belong.

As revealed by Wickersham, then Alabama defensive coordinator and current Ole Miss coordinator Pete Golding attempted to prevent Manning from going to Texas by bringing up head coach Steve Sarkisian’s previous battle with alcoholism, which cost him his job at USC.

A cold remark made by a former Nick Saban assistant regarding Steve Sarkisian didn't help Alabama's case in its recruitment of Arch Manning.

If anyone can understand the heft of being a Manning, it’s Arch’s siblings — fiercely loyal, wickedly funny and always there to support him.

The Manning name goes a long way — even for college football bettors. Top-ranked Texas is favored to win the national championship, which would be its first since Vince Young dashed into the Rose Bowl end zone two decades ago to upset Southern California.

The Texas Longhorns have begun the Arch Manning era at quarterback. As the grandson of legendary college quarterback Archie Manning and the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, he is one of the highest-rated high school recruits of all time.