Paul Finebaum with some high praise for Texas QB Arch Manning
In a moment that sent shockwaves through the college football world—and a jolt of pride through Longhorn Nation—SEC Network host and college football commentator Paul Finebaum offered some of his strongest public praise yet for Texas quarterback Arch Manning, saying the rising sophomore has not only lived up to his famous last name but is on track to redefine the next era of Texas football.
“He’s the real deal,” Finebaum said during a segment on The Paul Finebaum Show. “We’ve talked for years about whether the hype was too much. It wasn’t. Arch Manning is everything Texas hoped he would be—and possibly more.”
Manning, the former No. 1 overall recruit in the 2023 class, came to Texas with astronomical expectations, given his pedigree as the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning and grandson of college football legend Archie Manning. After redshirting during his freshman year behind Quinn Ewers, he now enters the 2025 season as the undisputed leader of the Longhorns offense—and already, the early returns are turning heads.
Insiders who watched Texas’ spring practices and summer workouts say Manning has made dramatic improvements in command, arm strength, timing, and poise. And while Steve Sarkisian has been measured in his comments, the buzz has been impossible to contain.
“You can see it—the way the team gravitates to him, the way he breaks down defenses pre-snap,” Finebaum noted. “This isn’t just a legacy name. Arch is writing his own story.”
In his broadcast, Finebaum didn’t hold back when comparing Manning’s early trajectory to other SEC and national greats.
“He’s ahead of where Peyton and Eli were at this stage,” Finebaum said. “He throws with anticipation, he’s got a better deep ball than I expected, and most importantly—he’s fearless. That Rose Bowl against USC? That was a turning point. He looked like a 25-year-old NFL starter.”
The 2025 Rose Bowl performance, in which Manning came off the bench to lead Texas to a comeback win over USC after Ewers left with an injury, has become a defining moment in his early college career. He threw for 217 yards and two touchdowns in the second half, including a game-winning 35-yard strike on 4th-and-9.
While the physical tools were always evident, Finebaum focused heavily on Manning’s growth as a leader, something that had reportedly been a work in progress as he adjusted to college life, team dynamics, and the intense media glare.
Now, heading into Year 2, those leadership traits are blossoming.
“You watch him in the huddle, at the podium, even in how he handles social media—he gets it,” Finebaum said. “He’s got that Joe Burrow vibe. Cool, confident, doesn’t need to say a lot. But when he speaks, the team listens.”
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, long regarded as one of college football’s premier offensive minds, has carefully brought Manning along. Now, with the playbook wide open and an arsenal of weapons—including tight end James Flanigan, wideout Jaylen Moore, and dual-threat back Donovan Calhoun—Manning is expected to take full control of one of the most explosive attacks in the country.
Finebaum pointed out that the Sarkisian-Manning pairing could be “the most dangerous coach-QB combination in the SEC” once Texas enters its full SEC slate in 2025.
“He’s not just running Sark’s offense. He’s mastering it,” Finebaum said. “This is going to be a nightmare for SEC defenses.”
As Texas transitions fully into SEC competition, expectations for Arch Manning are no longer just about development—they’re about winning.
The Longhorns, under Sarkisian, have rebuilt their identity with elite recruiting and toughness in the trenches. But it’s been a quarterback away from consistent dominance. Now, with Manning, that may finally change.
“Texas hasn’t had a quarterback like this since Vince Young,” Finebaum said. “And I don’t say that lightly.”
With a strong start to the 2025 season, Manning is already being mentioned in early Heisman Trophy conversations and as a potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
NFL scouts are reportedly raving about:
- His deep-ball accuracy
- Ability to read complex defenses
- Quick release and ball placement
- Poise in high-pressure moments
Finebaum added, “He’s going to be the face of college football by midseason. Not just the SEC—the entire sport.”
For years, the question surrounding Arch Manning was whether he could escape the shadow of his family name. Today, that question is being emphatically answered.
He doesn’t need to escape the legacy—he’s enhancing it.
“The Mannings gave us two Hall of Famers. Texas may be giving us the third,” Finebaum said. “And that’s not hype anymore. That’s reality.”
Hook ’Em.
