Arch Manning a win for Texas, but there’s also a surprise loser

Arch Manning’s college destination is now known. What’s next for the biggest prospect college football has seen in decades?

If Arch Manning lives up to the hype. his commitment to the Longhorns might just be the start of a true return to glory for the Longhorns.

Manning picked Texas over the likes of Alabama, Georgia and Clemson, among others. His commitment wasn’t flashy, but exactly what you’d expect from a Manning: a six word tweet, followed by a simple #HookEm.

Texas is the obvious winner in this situation. But things could get even better for the Longhorns after the Manning commitment. And it very well may happen courtesy of one of the biggest losers of the Manning sweepstakes. A team who, according to 247Sports, never even offered Manning.

The Louisville Cardinals.

It sounds crazy. How could a team not only never even involved, but not even in the same conference, be considered not only a loser, but potentially the biggest loser of the move?

Louisville currently sits 11th in 247’s 2023 recruiting rankings. The Cardinals have been hot on the recruiting trail as of late, picking up a verbal commitment from the 16th overall prospect in the 2023 class, Rueben Owens.

And that’s exactly why when it’s all said and done, Louisville might be in trouble.

Owens, as mentioned, is the 16th-ranked prospect according to 247’s 2023 rankings. He might end up being Louisville’s best offensive player since Lamar Jackson. All Jackson did was win the program’s only Heisman Trophy. And oh yeah, he’s an NFL MVP, as well.

Owens is a product of El Campo, Texas, just 142 miles from the University of Texas campus. Texas was high on Owens, so much so it was a shock when the 5-foot-11, 190-pound running back made his decision to commit to Louisville.

It’s easy to understand why many, myself included, had doubts that Owens would ever see a field in Cardinal red and black. All it’s going to take is either a good Texas season, which is reasonable, or a really strong year from current Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson. Robinson is a Heisman candidate, so it’s not a stretch to think even if things once again go rough in Austin, Robinson can have a great season.

And that was before Arch Manning made his decision.

If Owens does decommit from Louisville, it could have ramifications beyond just himself. Namely an uncommitted 6-foot-4, 305-pound offensive lineman, Madden Sanker. Louisville is considered the favorite for Sanker, the talented South Paulding, Georgia product currently holds 20 offers with Arkansas, Michigan State and Miami other contenders for his services.

It’s early in the 2023 cycle: Texas Tech is No. 6, Northwestern is No. 8, and Duke is 24th. Meanwhile, Oklahoma, Alabama and Michigan are 37th, 38th and 39th, respectively. Texas A&M is 46th.

Things are going to change drastically in the next eight months. That’s exactly why this Owens’ commitment to Louisville is huge now, but could be even bigger looking forward.

As for Texas, even Longhorn fans should be hard pressed to say Texas is “back,” as for the better part of ten years the Longhorns have found new ways to make really good teams incredibly average.

But this is a huge step in the right direction. The timing couldn’t be better, as a significant move from the Big 12 to the SEC awaits the Longhorns in 2025, possibly (likely?) even sooner than that. The thought of  truly elite Longhorn team playing the likes of Alabama, LSU and of course Texas A&M? OK, cool, hook ‘em.