Think of the trade for Alex Caruso and what that did for the Thunder.

Caruso, a defensive stopper, assimilated instantly into Oklahoma City’s scheme and drew massive assignments — such as guarding Nuggets center Nikola Jokić — during the team’s NBA Finals run.

Think of the Bucks adding backup center Bobby Portis in free agency the offseason before they beat the Suns in six games to win their first NBA Finals in 50 seasons.

Often, it’s the overlooked moves that carry massive implications for a team’s playoff hopes, and this offseason was no different.

Here are five under-the-radar moves that may have gone unnoticed but may prove to be key to championship contention in 2025-26:

Bruce Brown rejoins Nuggets

In his lone season in Denver, 2022-23, Brown averaged career-bests in points (11.5), assists (3.4) and minutes (28.5). Brown is an asset because he can switch on pick-and-rolls and helps facilitate on offense. He understands the culture and what’s needed to win it all.

Dorian Finney-Smith signs with Rockets

This move was overshadowed by the trade to land Kevin Durant, but signing Dorian Finney-Smith feels like a move that was done in response to the rise of the Thunder. The Rockets, with Finney-Smith, suddenly have elite length and defensive athleticism at the wing, which should align with clamping Oklahoma City players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. Finney-Smith can also hit 3s — he shot a career-best 41.1% from beyond the arc last season — so he also helps spread the floor for Houston.

Another move worthy of consideration here is re-signing center Steven Adams, who allows the Rockets to play a two-big lineup, matching up with the Thunder duo of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein.

Jordan Clarkson signs with Knicks

They already had a set starting lineup with continuity and a pair of All-Stars who can ignite. What the Knicks didn’t have was a reliable scoring option off the bench (and a coach who isn’t afraid to call on reserves). Mike Brown, who isn’t shy about extending the rotation, fixes the latter issue, but signing proven scorer Jordan Clarkson to a veteran minimum deal shores up the offense off the bench.

Clarkson, 33, agreed to a buyout with the Jazz, making him available. The 2020-21 Sixth Man of the Year, Clarkson has scored 8,045 points off the bench, which ranks 11th all-time and leads all active players.

Jaylin Williams re-signs with Thunder

They already won a championship with Jaylin Williams, or Jay Will — not to be confused with All-Star Jalen Williams (J-Dub). But in re-signing Jaylin Williams, OKC gets added flexibility with the 23-year-old backup forward.

Williams averaged 5.9 points and 5.6 boards per game, though he played just 16.7 minutes per contest. But he recorded three triple-doubles in nine starts last season, averaging 14.7 points, 10.7 assists and 13 rebounds across those three games. Put a different way: when the Thunder need him to step up, he is more than capable. He may go on to be a key piece if the Thunder become the first repeat champs since 2018, or if they’re hit by the injury bug.

Sam Merrill re-signs with Cavaliers

He re-signed on a four-year deal that basically went overlooked, but this move is all about replacing Ty Jerome, the Sixth Man of the Year finalist who signed with the Grizzlies.

Merrill appeared in 71 regular-season games — a career high — and started three playoff games. He averaged just 7.2 points per game, but his 137 made 3-pointers ranked 12th among NBA reserves. He also posted a plus-minus of +330 off the bench, third best in the league. With more minutes at his disposal, Merrill, a member of the 2021 Bucks team that won the NBA Finals, should see a big jump in production.

Based on preseason rankings, there could be as many as seven games between ranked opponents on Nov. 1.
Ohio State hosts Penn State in a potential No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup on Nov. 1.
The famous Cocktail party between Florida and Georgia could have SEC title race implications.

Nov. 1 is a long way off, but that doesn’t mean college football fans shouldn’t get excited about it, even with the season not yet officially underway.

There are plenty of juicy tidbits on the Week 1 schedule to whet our appetites, but if we project ahead a bit to Week 10, that Saturday promises to be the biggest of the entire campaign. Based upon preseason rankings in the US LBM Coaches Poll, there could potentially be as many as seven games between ranked opponents on the first day of November.

Obviously, a lot can and will change between now and then in the rankings, so some of these blockbuster clashes might not pan out. But there should nevertheless be a healthy menu of matchups with playoff implications, and that’s even with Alabama and LSU having that week off prior to their head-to-head showdown on the following Saturday.

So since we’re still waiting to see actual football, here’s a quick look at what might be in store on Nov. 1.

No. 3 Penn State at No. 2 Ohio State

It’s not out of the question that this could become the second No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup of the season in Ohio Stadium. The likelihood increases if the Buckeyes upend preseason No. 1 Texas in Week 1 and the Nittany Lions handle Oregon in late September. But even if one or both of these teams takes an ‘L’ prior to this encounter, it will almost certainly have Big Ten championship and College Football Playoff implications.

No. 4 Georgia vs. No. 17 Florida

The Cocktail Party is always an anticipated affair, even though the pendulum has swung the Bulldogs’ way in recent years. The Gators have a treacherous gauntlet of four ranked opponents to deal with even before this date in Jacksonville, but they could still have a number before their name if they manage at least a split of those contests. Georgia could also face up to three ranked SEC foes before the annual showdown with Florida, but there will be no shortage of interest in this rivalry regardless of records.

No. 10 Miami (Fla.) at No. 16 SMU

Whether these preseason poll positions hold up, this contest should figure prominently in the ACC race. The Hurricanes have a difficult non-conference schedule to negotiate first with games against Notre Dame and Florida, while the Mustangs have the small matter of a mid-October visit to Clemson on their itinerary.

No. 13 South Carolina at No. 15 Mississippi

There’s a lot of optimism about the prospectus for both the Gamecocks and Rebels with them slotting ahead of several other SEC teams in poll. It’s safe to say that if both of these teams are still in the poll ahead of this matchup, they’ll have earned their places. Each will have dates with LSU and Oklahoma, and additionally the Rebels must visit Georgia and the Gamecocks play host to Alabama.

Oklahoma at No. 18 Tennessee

There’s considerable disparity between the US LBM Coaches Poll and the AP rankings for these SEC hopefuls, and the degree of difficulty on their respective schedules makes it arguably the iffiest of the possible ranked matchups on this list. The Sooners were the team closest to making the Top 25 in the coaches poll and were No. 18 in the media rankings. Their road is difficult. Oklahoma in addition to the dates mentioned above, must also get through a non-conference tilt with Michigan as well as Red River rival Texas. The Volunteers have both Georgia and Alabama on their dance card before hosting the Sooners.

No. 11 Arizona State at No. 21 Iowa State

The Big 12 lacks the SEC’s depth of ranked candidates but is just as volatile. The Sun Devils are the most likely of the group to still be ranked come November due to their elevated starting position, but a road date with a possibly revitalized Utah squad is just one of the hurdles they must clear prior to this trip to Ames. The Cyclones for their part will have faced rivals Kansas State and Iowa well before the leaves change color, but they could work their way back into the poll even if they don’t escape the early portion of their schedule unscathed.

No. 24 Texas Tech at No. 20 Kansas State

This is another pairing of teams whose fortunes could have taken vastly different turns by the time they meet in the Little Apple. The Wildcats begin with that aforementioned clash with Iowa State in Ireland, and this contest with the Red Raiders will be immediately preceded by a short trip to Sunflower State rival Kansas. The Red Raiders’ early slate looks more manageable, but a mid-October trip to Arizona State could determine their poll spot.

The Connecticut Sun is looking for a new home and neither Boston nor Hartford applied for expansion.
The league maintains cities, including Houston, which did apply and were vetted, would get first dibs.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said, ‘There are a variety of cities that obviously bid – and one of those I wanted to shoutout … is Houston.’

The walls and ceiling within the Houston Comets’ locker room were shaking from the unbridled energy emanating from the capacity crowd, which was separated by a razor-thin barrier of drywall.

Moments before their WNBA Finals contest against the New York Liberty in 1999, Comets coach Van Chancellor relayed the game plan to his players – who would soon be sprinting out of the tunnel into the chaotic scene.

WNBA architects including president Val Ackerman and NBA commissioner David Stern had envisioned this type of raucous atmosphere, and it was already coming to fruition during the league’s earliest days.

Years before Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese were born, the Houston Comets won the WNBA’s first four championships. Now, after 17 years without a team, “Clutch City” may be in line for a franchise revival. The Connecticut Sun is looking for a new home and neither Boston nor Hartford applied for expansion, despite former Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca offering to buy the team for $325 million. The league maintains cities, including Houston, which did apply and were vetted, would get first dibs.

During a June 30 news conference announcing the addition of expansion teams in Detroit, Cleveland and Philadelphia, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said, “There are a variety of cities that obviously bid – and one of those I wanted to shoutout, because they have such a strong history in this league and they are a great ownership group – is Houston.”

Engelbert also added, “I would say that’s the one obviously we have our eye on.”

Houston, 25 years removed from its glory days, fully embraced the Comets and their megastar lineup which included Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson. Cooper, a four-time WNBA Finals MVP whose on-court dominance was paired with an oversized personality, was a fan favorite.

“Someone recognized me on the freeway and then they just followed me … to get an autograph,” Cooper told USA TODAY Sports, recalling the fan fervor. “It was great recognition for what I, individually, and what we as a team, were doing out there on that court. The fans in Houston (were) just amazing; they supported us every step of the way.”

Diana Taurasi, who patterned her game after the Comets’ Big 3, recognizes Houston’s rich history in the league.

“When you talk about dynasties, you talk about the Bulls, the Lakers, the Celtics. Well, in the WNBA, it’s the Houston Comets,” said Taurasi, a three-time WNBA champion and arguably the greatest player in league history. “They paved the way for all these legacies and dynasties in the WNBA, so Houston has got to be back on the map.”

The idea of placing a team in Houston is popular among current WNBA players.

During All-Star weekend in Indianapolis in July, the league’s elite were asked which city deserves a team. Houston was a popular choice, advocated for by Reese, Sydney Colson and Nneka Ogwumike.

Ogwumike, who grew up in Houston during the Comet’s reign of dominance, further accentuated her choice by “throwing up the H,” a popular hand gesture used by Houstonians.  

To fully understand Houston’s appeal in either expansion or relocation, you need only look at the passion the city had for the Comets. The team averaged more than 14,000 fans a game during the playoffs from 1997-2000.

“I had the pleasure of covering the Bulls in Chicago during their two three-peats,’ said Jeff Hagedorn, the Comets play-by-play announcer from 1999-2005. “That was the most attention I ever saw a team get from their fans. But the Comets? They were a close second.  The city embraced them as champions, and the fans were as passionate as any I’ve ever observed.”The team’s affable Hall of Fame coach Chancellor was a big reason. He celebrated the fans by handing out candy prior to each home game. Chancellor recently recalled an encounter he had with a season ticket holder looking for some sugar.

“Some lady (came) up to me and said, ‘Hey, I’m in row 16, seat 3, would you please throw me a piece of candy?’” Chancellor said. “In ’97, ’98 – those years, we had the best fanbase that’s ever been in the WNBA.”

Comets fans were all in.

“We would do an interview after each game, and fans wouldn’t leave,” said Jim Kozimor, the play-by-play broadcaster in 1997 and ’98. “They wouldn’t head to the exits (because) the show wasn’t over. The players would acknowledge them, (and) they felt like they were a big part of the success. There was a real love affair.’

Hagedorn, who replaced Kozimor when he joined the Sacramento Kings, also witnessed the postgame hysteria.

“I couldn’t leave my spot on press row; I was literally stuck. The fans were swarming!  I just sat there watching, smiling and shaking my head. They were the toast of the town,” said Hagedorn, whose signature live call described any Comets player who was in the zone as: “burning with the white-hot intensity of a thousand suns.”

Chris Wragge, who alongside Mike Breen and Ann Meyers, was part of NBC’s national broadcast team, was also impressed with the fan support.

“What Caitlin Clark is to the WNBA now, that is what the Comets were to the league,” said Wragge, who also served as sports anchor at KPRC in Houston. “There was no better draw; there was never an empty seat in the house.”

The fans were devoted during the good times and bad, including Game 2 of the 1999 WNBA Finals. The New York Liberty’s Teresa Weatherspoon hit the game-winner with a three-quarter court buzzer beater to stun the Comets, 68-67.

“I’ve been doing this for 30 years and that was the loudest arena I have ever heard,” said Tom Savage, who ran Comets PR for two seasons.

With confetti prematurely falling at the Compaq Center to celebrate a third title, the once-boisterous crowd grew silent.

“The quietness was deafening,” Savage said. “(It was) almost like your ears were ringing and then there was nothing.”

Cooper said: “That contrast was striking.” 

But while the fans displayed their affection with a quiet hush and a few tears, nothing compared to the way the community rallied around Kim Perrot, the scrappy point guard who made the team after impressing during an open tryout.

Perrot was diagnosed with lung cancer in early 1999. The cancer spread to her brain and Perrot died six months later, on Aug. 19, 1999, at age 32.

Among the initiatives Comets fans undertook on behalf of their beloved player was raising money for “Kim’s Place,” a lounge for teens and young adults battling cancer. Located at MD Anderson Cancer Center, the lounge has a jukebox, pool table, video games, and rooms for counseling and classes.“They let us know that they weren’t just there as fans; they were there as a part of the Houston Comets organization – struggling with the same thing we were struggling with as far as losing Kim Perrot,” Cooper, a close friend of Perrot’s, said. “The city of Houston rallied around us.”

The highs of lows that the franchise experienced, especially during the championship seasons, galvanized the community and their hometown heroes.

“The bond between the Comets and their fans was one rarely found in sports,” said Bob Schranz, the Comets media relations manager from 2001-2005. “The season ticket holders were more like a family than a fanbase. You had players and a host of fans literally on a first-name basis.”

With all its rich history and a once-fanatical following, could the WNBA resurrect the Comets? The Houston Rockets could be a part of the Comets return.

“We remain committed to exploring every avenue to bring a WNBA franchise back to the City of Houston,” Gretchen Sheirr, the Rockets president of business operations, said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports.

The Rockets, led by their owner – restaurant and casino mogul Tilman Fertitta, are on board, and as for Houstonians – Chancellor summed it up by saying, “This fanbase is ready to explode again.”

Cooper, for one, saw that support first hand, listening to the crowd’s roar from the locker room in 1999, running out of the tunnel to those cheers and delivering four titles. She has no doubt those same fans, paired with a new generation, would welcome a WNBA team. 

“The city of Houston misses the Comets and misses having a WNBA franchise to support, and I think this is a great time for it,” Cooper said. “I’m excited for the opportunity and the possibility, and I know that there are tons of fans here ready to support it.”

No, not high-top sneakers. Boxing gloves.

O’Neal, 53, has accepted a celebrity fight with Charles “Charlie Mack’’ Alston, a former bodyguard for actor Will Smith and a figure in the hip hop industry who has indicated he is in his 50s.

In an Instagram video challenging O’Neal to fight, Alston this week explained the two men have a beef dating back to an encounter years ago.

“We were in Dallas doing an autograph signing, and (O’Neal) came and tried to jump in front of the line,” Mack said. “I chopped him in his neck so he could get back.’’ During the interview, Alston sat next to Damon Feldman, CEO of Officially Celebrity Boxing

O’Neal accepted the fight in the comments section of Alston’s video then posted his own video on Instagram.

“Hey celebrity boxing and Charlie Mack, I accept,’’ O’Neal said. “You name the time and place, I’ll be there. Diesel don’t run from nobody.’’

In the video, the 7-foot-1 Hall of Famer also referred to his beef with Alston.

‘You chopped me in my neck, Charlie Mack, that’s why I talk so funny. Payback time,’ O’Neal said. “You name the time and place, I’ll be there. Diesel don’t run from nobody. … You better check my police record, Charlie Mack.’

On Tuesday, Mack wrote on his Instagram page, “So I call Big Fella @shaq out yesterday & he accepted as I knew he would!!!! We’ve been talking about it way too long, now we MUST get it ON!!!!!!!!’’

The latest on Mack’s Instagram: the image of a fight-style poster featuring O’Neal and Mack.

O’Neal weighed about 325 pounds during his 19-year NBA career. Mack is about 6-foot-6 and 290 pounds, according to a rap song recorded by Will Smith when he was rapping as “The Fresh Prince.’’

“Me and you, baby, super heavyweight,’’ Mack said on the video, adding that he was calling O’Neal “Sha-knocked out.’ That’s what you’re going to be.’’

Official Celebrity Boxing has promoted fights featuring retired sports figures such Jose Canseco, Lamar Odom and Tonya Harding.

Anthony Richardson’s time with the Indianapolis Colts has been one bumpy ride.

Head coach Shane Steichen officially named Daniel Jones the team’s starter for Week 1, which might end up closing the book on the former Florida star’s time in Indianapolis – or maybe not.

Richardson’s road to with the Colts took another twist on Aug. 19 evening when the passer’s agent, Deiric Jackson, spoke with ESPN and expressed his disappointment with the club.

‘We have a lot to discuss,’ Jackson told ESPN.

The agent questioned whether the decision to start Jones was a predetermined one, dating back to the quarterback’s signing to a one-year, $14 million deal in March. Jackson continued, suggesting the team has damaged their credibility with their handling of Richardson.

‘Trust is a big factor and that is, at best, questionable right now,’ Jackson said. ‘Anthony came back and made the improvements in the areas he needed to improve. And by all accounts, he had a great camp.’

Richardson took the decision in stride, saying he has to keep growing.

‘[Steichen] made a decision,’ Richardson said. ‘That’s the decision we’ve got to live with, but no hard feelings, nothing personal. I’ve just got to keep growing. I just can’t let me not being a starter stop me from going and being the person, the player that I’m supposed to be.’

The quarterback hasn’t necessarily helped his case, whether by health or production. He has played in just 15 of a possible 34 games in two seasons, completing 50.6% of passes, throwing 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

Richardson also famously pulled himself out of a game against the Houston Texans in 2024, which led to him being benched for two games before eventually returning to the starting lineup.

This offseason, the quarterback battled a shoulder injury. It kept him sidelined for mandatory minicamp, giving Jones a potential advantage in the competition.

It’s unclear whether Richardson will eventually request a trade, but he remains on the roster for the time being. Jackson believes that his client can still play in the league, citing his playmaking abillity.

‘When they needed a big play last year,’ Jackson said via ESPN, ‘whose hands did they put the ball in? Anthony’s.’

This winding road has also seen its fair share of peaks and valleys, but Tuesday’s news saw another detour sign pop up at an inopportune time. The next question is where that detour leads.

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The money has gone to the WNBA’s head.

Interest in the league is exploding and prospective owners are tripping over themselves trying to win the favor of W commissioner Cathy Engelbert. Rather than doing the right thing, however, Engelbert and her NBA overlords are seemingly acting like mob bosses, shaking people down in hopes of stuffing even more cash into their pockets.

Except the pockets of the players, of course. God forbid they should benefit.

Instead, ESPN reported, the W has tried to strongarm the Mohegan Tribe, the Connecticut Sun’s owner, into taking less money so the league can direct the team to its preferred owner and cash in later on a future expansion team.

That isn’t good business. It’s a racket. And the Mohegan Tribe, the Sun and WNBA fans deserve better.

Kudos to the Mohegan Tribe, who have owned the Sun since 2003 but realize a team in Uncasville, Connecticut, cannot keep pace in an era when WNBA teams are spending big on practice facilities and arena upgrades. They began exploring their options last year and came up with what look like two pretty good ones.

The first, from Boston Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca, is for a WNBA-record $325 million with the promise of a $100 million for a practice facility. Pagliuca was expected to move the team to Boston, but it’s at least still in the region and, given the sold-out crowds the Sun drew for games there each of the last two seasons, has an established fan base.

The other, from a group fronted by former Milwaukee Bucks owner Marc Lasry, would have matched Pagliuca’s $325 million offer while moving the team to Hartford, Connecticut. Again, still in the region, just 45 miles from Uncasville.

But the WNBA won’t even consider either of them because they didn’t apply for expansion.

“Relocation decisions are made by the WNBA Board of Governors and not by individual teams,” the WNBA said in a statement provided to USA TODAY Sports.

“As part of our most recent expansion process, in which three new franchises were awarded to Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia on June 30, 2025, nine additional cities also applied for WNBA teams and remain under active consideration.”

Can you imagine NBA commissioner Adam Silver saying this to, say, the New Orleans Pelicans owners? It’d never happen, because Silver, and every other league commissioner, views franchise owners as partners, not ATMs.

If this is the way the WNBA is going to operate, what is even the point of owning a franchise? Why even have franchises at all? Just have the WNBA own all the teams and be done with it.

The WNBA’s complicated ownership structure used to be necessary for its survival. Now it’s at the root of many of the league’s problems. 

The NBA and its owners own 42% of the WNBA, and it’s well known their investment helped keep the WNBA afloat. It is also well known some NBA owners aren’t real happy about that and, now that the W is raking in the cash, want a return on their investment.

Which is fair. Same for the investors who paid $75 million for a 16% stake of the W in 2022.

But their interests should not come before or at the expense of a longtime WNBA team owner’s right to decide what is best for them, their franchise and their fanbase.

The Mohegan tribe have two offers, both of which would give the tribe a massive payout, boost franchise valuations across the WNBA and maintain the Sun’s fanbase. By any metric, that seems like a fantastic deal.

Except NBA owners won’t profit from it. And it prevents the WNBA, and those NBA owners and outside investors, from double-dipping by requiring Pagliuca, Lasry or someone else from paying for an expansion franchise down the road.

It also means the W won’t be returning to Houston anytime soon. (Though why, if the league is so dead-set on that happening, didn’t it award Houston a franchise during its last expansion go-around?)

For years, those who cared about the WNBA hoped deep-pocketed people would see the value in owning a team and investing in the league. Now that they finally are, it’s the league that isn’t.

Prioritizing outside investors over its own owners is a bad way for the WNBA to do business. And it’s going to make prospective owners think twice about wanting to do business with the WNBA. 

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.

Taylor Swift, NFL draft scout?

While most of the attention surrounding Swift’s appearance on the ‘New Heights’ podcast was focused on her relationship with Travis Kelce, the pop star also pointed out her excitement during the 2024 NFL Draft. Specifically, Swift detailed her elation about the Kansas City Chiefs’ selection of Xavier Worthy with the 28th overall pick.

On Tuesday, Worthy responded to the viral clip.

‘That’s crazy,’ Worthy said. ‘I ain’t gonna lie, she’s the biggest pop star in this generation so it’s crazy to have somebody running around the house screaming, ‘We drafted you!”

The pick was only made possible after the Chiefs traded up with the Buffalo Bills, which became cause for celebration in the Swift residence.

‘I became like a person who was running through the halls of my house screaming, ‘We drafted Xavier Worthy,” Swift said.

Kelce was a non-believer at first, saying that he wasn’t sure if Swift had the right information.

‘I forget where I was, but you were the first person to tell me that we drafted the fastest man in the draft,’ Kelce said.

Chiefs fans were given many reasons to be happy about the selection and their newest superfan wasted no time joining the crowd.

‘I was freaking out,’ Swift added.

Worthy certainly proved to be a solid addition to the Kansas City offense in his rookie year, totaling 742 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns on 79 touches – also proving to be someone that rose to the occasion in the postseason.

Heading into his second season, the former Texas star will look to build off an impressive rookie year. Turns out, he’ll be doing it with one of the world’s biggest celebrities in his corner.

Texas football quarterback Arch Manning is 11 days away from his debut as the Longhorns’ full-time starting quarterback vs. No. 2 Ohio State, kicking off a highly anticipated road to the NFL draft.

But on Tuesday, Aug. 19, the Longhorns’ first-year starter had to address his future plans after his grandfather, former Ole Miss and New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning, had said earlier this month that NFL teams shouldn’t expect his grandson to be available next April.

‘Yeah, I don’t know where he got that from,’ Arch Manning told assembled media on Aug. 19. ‘He texted me and apologized about that, but I’m really just taking it day by day right now.’

Archie Manning had previously told Texas Monthly he doesn’t anticipate his grandson leaving Texas after just one season starting for the Longhorns.

‘Arch isn’t going to do that,’ Archie Manning said. ‘He’ll be at Texas.’

Arch Manning is eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft, as he has been out of high school for three seasons. The former No. 1-ranked player in the 2023 recruiting class, according to 247Sports Composite, redshirted his true freshman season with the Longhorns in 2023.

Archie Manning exhausted his eligibility at Ole Miss before going No. 2 overall to the New Orleans Saints in the 1971 NFL Draft. Arch Manning’s uncles, Peyton and Eli Manning, also exhausted their eligibility before being selected No. 1 overall in the 1998 and 2004 NFL drafts, respectively.

The 6-foot-4 quarterback started two games last season for Texas while Quinn Ewers was out with an injury. In 10 games last year, which included coming in for occasional snaps in the postseason, Arch Manning completed 67.8% of his passes for 939 yards and nine touchdowns.

His first task as the Longhorns’ starting quarterback will be a challenging one, as Texas is set to travel to No. 2 Ohio State in Week 1 to open the season. On top of having to deal with the Buckeyes’ overall defense, Arch Manning will have to contend against an Ohio State secondary that includes star safety Caleb Downs, one of the top players at his position in the country.

Texas is scheduled for a noon ET kickoff against Ohio State on Saturday, Aug. 30 in Columbus, Ohio at Ohio Stadium.

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