Joel Klatt Says Arch Manning’s Bad Performance vs. Ohio State Was Expected

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jaron Spor | Last updated Sep 1, 2025 10:42 AM ET

Arch Manning entered the season as the Heisman Trophy favorite and face of the No. 1 Texas Longhorns. His debut instead ended in a 14-7 loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes that left analysts split on what it means going forward.

Manning was also considered a likely candidate for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, despite having limited playing time before this season. On "The Joel Klatt Show," the Fox Sports analyst suggested that his struggles should have been anticipated.

"No, he didn't play well," Klatt said. "But that's to be expected. Starting on the road for the first time is hard. Doing it against that Ohio State team in that environment, almost impossible. We talk about this all of the time on this program. You generally don't beat top-five programs on the road if ever."

Arch Manning Falters in Highly Anticipated Season Debut

Manning finished the game 17-of-30 for 170 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed 10 times for 38 yards. However, there was a positive sign in the fourth quarter. Before the quarter, he had only thrown for 50 yards, with one interception and no touchdowns. However, he came alive during the fourth, passing for 120 yards and throwing a touchdown pass on a beautiful 32-yard strike to Parker Livingstone.

Despite Manning enjoying a strong fourth quarter, Quinn Ewers was the main topic of conversation during the game. The Texas starter for the past two seasons, Ewers declared for the NFL draft and was selected by the Miami Dolphins. Many people in Austin were not disappointed by Ewers' decision, as they were eager for the Manning era to begin. However, during the game, it seemed fans were wishing Ewers had chosen to stay at Texas.

Paul Finebaum Reacts To Arch Manning's Performance

It wasn't only the fans who reacted to Manning's poor performance; ESPN's Paul Finebaum also weighed in on the matter during ESPN's "SportsCenter" on Sunday. Before Saturday's game, Finebaum had praised Manning, calling him the best college player since former Florida Gators Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow. However, after the game, Finebaum was less optimistic about Manning's abilities.

“You start to worry a little bit about your predictions when Arch has more commercials in the first quarter than he does completions,” Finebaum said. “Ultimately, he was terrible. There’s no getting around it.”

While Finebaum already sounded alarms, Klatt reminded viewers that one road loss doesn’t end a season. Manning and Texas now turn their focus to Week 2, where the spotlight will be just as bright as the Longhorns try to bounce back.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: