Arch Manning lands at No. 2 in analyst’s QB rankings. One rival is ahead of him.

David Pollack has seen enough from Arch Manning to rank him among the top quarterbacks in college football. Just not at the very top.

On his “See Ball Get Ball” show, the former Georgia standout and longtime analyst placed the Texas quarterback at No. 2 in his preseason QB rankings. The guy ahead of him? Ole Miss senior Trinidad Chambliss, who Pollack described as “an adult” and “a pro” with an extra gear that separates him from the pack.

“(He has) that extra it factor, that thing that he can do that other people can’t do,” Pollack said.

Manning isn’t exactly getting buried by the analysis. Pollack called his arm talent “unbelievable” and praised his “laser-quick release.” He also pointed to the situation Manning walks into this season.

“We’re going to see Arch Manning with less pressure than a year ago, with his best supporting cast he’s had, and it ain’t even close. One of the best in the country,” Pollack said. “His release will stand up with anyone. He can scramble, he can run, he can do designed runs, he’s got plenty of arm talent. To me, it’s really about the experience and having fun. He already went through all the scrutiny. Now I think he gets to go ball with a fresh set of toys around him.”

Manning’s first full season as starter

Last year was Manning’s first as the undisputed starter after Quinn Ewers moved on. He threw for career highs in yards (3,163) and touchdowns (26). He showed his dual-threat ability. Texas won 10 games, went 6-2 in SEC play, and beat Michigan in the Citrus Bowl.

But the Longhorns didn’t make the College Football Playoff. That stung. And Manning would be the first to admit he’s still got room to grow.

The numbers were solid. But the consistency wasn’t always there. Some games he looked like the next great Manning. Others he looked like a guy still figuring out how to handle SEC defenses. That’s normal for a first-year starter. The question now is what Year 2 looks like.

October showdown on deck

Manning and Chambliss will settle this on the field. Ole Miss travels to Austin in October for a game at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. That matchup could decide a lot more than just the QB debate. It might shape the entire SEC race.

Chambliss has the experience edge. He’s older, more polished, and Pollack thinks he reads defenses like a guy who’s already spent time in an NFL film room. Manning has the ceiling. The raw tools are ridiculous. The name carries weight. But Pollack’s ranking suggests that right now, experience still beats potential.

We’ll see if Manning changes that calculation by October.