Arch Manning has spent much of his time at Texas under a microscope.

From the moment he committed to the Longhorns, every throw, every practice and every appearance seemed to attract attention. That is what comes with being one of the most recognizable young quarterbacks in college football.

But now, Manning enters a season in which the conversation is beginning to change.

He is no longer simply the highly recruited quarterback waiting for his opportunity. He is Texas’ established starter, and the expectations surrounding him are higher than ever.

Manning gave Texas fans plenty of reasons to feel encouraged in the season opener. He completed 20 of 27 passes for 305 yards and four touchdowns as the Longhorns dominated Texas State 59-7.

It was exactly the type of start Texas needed.

However, the real test is coming quickly.

Texas is preparing for a much tougher challenge against No. 1 Ohio State, and Manning will once again find himself at the center of the college football spotlight.

This time, though, the circumstances are different.

Manning has experience.

He has already been through the pressure of starting against Ohio State. He knows what it feels like to have an entire stadium watching every decision he makes. He also knows how quickly one game can change the way people talk about a quarterback.

That experience could prove extremely valuable.

There was a noticeable confidence in Manning during Texas’ opening game.

He appeared comfortable in the offense and did a good job getting the football into the hands of his playmakers. Instead of forcing throws, he generally took what the defense gave him and allowed Texas’ talented roster to do the rest.

The four touchdown passes were obviously the headline numbers, but his overall efficiency was perhaps even more encouraging.

Completing 20 of 27 passes showed that Manning was making good decisions and staying within the offense.

Of course, Texas State is not Ohio State.

Nobody around the Longhorns is going to pretend otherwise.

The upcoming matchup will require Manning to make quicker decisions, handle more pressure and find ways to create opportunities against one of the best teams in the country.

That is why his performance against Ohio State will tell us much more about where he stands

There is already history between Manning and Ohio State.

Last season, Manning made his first start against the Buckeyes. Texas eventually lost that game 14-7, and Manning finished with 170 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception.

For a young quarterback making his first start, it was an enormous challenge.

This year, Manning will have another opportunity against the same program.

The biggest difference is that he is no longer learning how to be Texas’ starting quarterback.

He is the quarterback.

That distinction matters.

There should be far less mystery surrounding Manning this time. He has played meaningful football. He has dealt with difficult moments. He has experienced the pressure that comes with playing quarterback for Texas.

Now he has to show that he can take another step forward.

Manning also appears to have an impressive collection of weapons at his disposal.

Ryan Wingo enters the season with major expectations, and his opening performance only increased the excitement surrounding him. Wingo finished the game against Texas State with seven receptions for 121 yards and a touchdown.

Cam Coleman also made an immediate impact after transferring to Texas from Auburn. He caught three passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns in his Longhorns debut.

Having reliable receivers can make a huge difference for a quarterback.

Manning does not have to do everything himself.

If defenses concentrate too heavily on one receiver, Texas has other players capable of making them pay. That gives Steve Sarkisian plenty of options when designing the offense.

It also gives Manning more opportunities to make smart decisions rather than trying to force the ball into coverage.

Against Ohio State, that could be one of the biggest advantages Texas has.

Steve Sarkisian has never been shy about putting the ball in the hands of his quarterback.

His offensive system places a tremendous amount of responsibility on the player behind center. Manning has to read defenses, recognize pressure and make decisions quickly.

That responsibility is part of what makes the position so difficult.

It is also part of what could make Manning better.

The more he plays, the more comfortable he should become with the demands of the position.

The Texas State game offered a glimpse of that development.

Now Sarkisian will find out how Manning handles a defense that can make life uncomfortable for even experienced quarterbacks.

The answer could determine how far Texas can go this season.

There is no escaping the expectations surrounding Manning.

His last name alone guarantees attention, but his talent is what made him such a highly regarded prospect in the first place.

Texas fans expect him to be one of the best quarterbacks in the country.

Some national observers already view him as a potential Heisman Trophy candidate.

Those expectations are not going away.

If anything, his performance against Texas State has made them even bigger.

But Manning does not need to win the Heisman in September.

He does not need to throw five touchdowns every week.

What Texas needs is consistency.

The Longhorns need Manning to make good decisions, protect the football and deliver when the game is on the line.

If he does that, the individual awards will take care of themselves.

Being under pressure is not necessarily a bad thing.

Manning has been dealing with it for years.

The difference now is that he has enough experience to understand how to handle it.

Last season, every mistake seemed to become a national discussion.

A bad throw could lead to questions about whether he was ready.

A strong game could produce another round of Heisman predictions.

That kind of attention can be difficult for any young player.

But Manning has now experienced both sides of it.

He knows that one game does not define his career.

That could help him remain focused when things do not go according to plan.

Against Ohio State, there will almost certainly be moments when the offense struggles.

The key will be how Manning responds.

As much as Manning will receive attention, Texas understands that beating Ohio State will require a complete team effort.

The offensive line has to protect him.

The running game has to keep the defense honest.

The receivers have to create separation.

The defense has to limit Ohio State’s explosive plays.

Special teams will also have to do its job.

If all of those areas perform well, Manning will not have to play a perfect game.

That is important.

Quarterbacks often receive too much credit when teams win and too much blame when they lose.

Texas has enough talent across its roster that Manning should not have to carry the entire program on his shoulders.

But when the game reaches the biggest moments, the ball will probably be in his hands.

That is when Texas will need its quarterback most.

The upcoming Ohio State game gives Manning a chance to change the way people view him.

He has already demonstrated that he can put up big numbers against an overmatched opponent.

Now he has to show that he can do it against one of the best teams in the country.

A strong performance would be significant.

It would show that Manning has grown since his first start against Ohio State and that he is ready for the biggest games on Texas’ schedule.

It could also give the Longhorns tremendous confidence moving forward.

A poor performance, on the other hand, would not suddenly make Manning a bad quarterback.

Football does not work that way.

Ohio State is an extremely talented team, and even experienced quarterbacks can struggle against elite competition.

The important thing would be how Manning responds afterward.

Texas has only played one game.

There is still a long way to go.

There will be difficult SEC games, injuries, unexpected challenges and moments when the Longhorns have to prove their toughness.

Manning will be judged throughout all of it.

That is the reality of being Texas’ starting quarterback.

For now, however, there are plenty of reasons for optimism.

Manning looked sharp in the opener. His receivers made plays. The offense moved the football effectively, and Texas took care of business against an opponent it was expected to beat.

Now comes the game everyone has been waiting for.

Ohio State will provide a much clearer picture of how far Manning has come.

The stage will be bigger.

The opponent will be better.

The pressure will be greater.

But Manning has been preparing for moments like this since he arrived in Austin.

This is no longer about potential.

It is about production.

It is about leadership.

And, most importantly, it is about winning.

Arch Manning has already shown that he can handle the spotlight when Texas is expected to dominate.

Now he gets the opportunity to show what he can do when the entire college football world is watching.

For Texas, that could be the beginning of something special.