Arch Manning entered the season with as much hype as anyone in college football. Shockingly, even though Manning hasn’t yet decided whether he’ll enter the draft at the conclusion of the season, ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper even had Manning as the number one quarterback in the 2026 draft class.
“We put him at No. 1 because we have to. It’s Arch Manning. We saw glimpses last year of the greatness he could provide that Texas offense. Running the football, he’s got great legs. Cooper Manning, his father, was a wide receiver until he got injured. So he’s got speed – something Eli and Peyton didn’t have,” Kiper said.
Kiper wasn’t the only media member with high praise for Manning, either. Paul Finebaum, one of ESPN’s top college football analysts and an expert on SEC football, called Manning “the best college football quarterback we have seen since Tim Tebow.
Unfortunately, Manning and the Longhorns got off to a tough start this season. Texas lost its season opener to the Ohio State Buckeyes in a game where Manning struggled mightily for most of the contest. The Longhorns have rattled off two wins since, but Manning is still struggling to be the Heisman-caliber quarterback everyone expected heading into the season.
Manning’s performance even forced Finebaum to walk back some of the praise that he and his colleagues heaped onto Manning.
“The bottom line is Arch Manning is not playing like an elite quarterback,” he said, according to Awful Announcing. “He’s barely playing like a pedestrian quarterback. He had some good plays (against San Jose State), but that game doesn’t mean anything. Ultimately, I think we all jumped the gun. Is he in the Heisman race? No, Arch Manning is not in the Heisman race as of today.”
“I still think Arch Manning can have a big-time season,” Finebaum continued. “When he starts seeing the road games in the SEC … I think he has a chance. And what he doesn’t need is his coach babying him in the media. That’s the worst thing that can happen when you already have the name that a lot of people want to hate on, privilege that a lot of people want to scorn.”
Now, Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian is giving a brutal update on his quarterback’s confidence.
“I would say no,” he answered when a reporter asked if the version of Arch Manning stepping on the field on Saturdays was the same guy the Longhorns see during the practice week.
“I would say we get a little different version in practice. Naturally, that’s kind of what I’m talking about: that ability to take Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and play with that same kind of confidence and intent on Saturday. That’s the part for us, is that we see and know what it looks like. My goal is that you all get to see that. That’s what we’re striving for. He had a great week. I’ve been proud of them for that.”
Fans reacted to the news on social media.
“Is the difference the intensity of the opposing defense? Surely in practice, they are not trying to aggressively tackle Arch,” one fan wanted to know on Twitter.
“Dude talks more like a politician than a real coach. Always just feeding fluff bs & not rly breaking down what everybody can see but him apparently,” someone else added.
There is no doubt in my mind he possesses enough talent to be a good player, but ‘gets so flustered under the bright lights he can’t even be average’ is not a good sign at all who is this meant to instill confidence in?” someone else wanted to know.
It’ll be interesting to see if Manning can reclaim his confidence.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.