Paul Finebaum Hits Breaking Point After Arch Manning Fallout

Arch Manning Era Off to Rocky Start

Manning struggled in the game, going 17-of-30 for 170 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed 10 times for 38 yards in Texas’ 14-7 loss. He had only 50 yards and no touchdowns with one interception entering the fourth quarter.

Although his game improved in the fourth quarter, Finebaum still criticized his "terrible" performance.

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

Joel Klatt Urges Patience With Arch Manning

While Finebaum criticized Manning's performance, Fox Sports' Joel Klatt defended him. Klatt acknowledged it wasn't a good game for the young quarterback, but it was a predictable outcome.

“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.”

Manning began the season as the frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy, aiming to become the first Longhorn to win it since Ricky Williams in 1998. He was also projected to be the top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, leading to high expectations. This pressure may have contributed to the reactions from people like Finebaum. In response, Klatt sought to temper those reactions and provide perspective on the situation.

Now the spotlight shifts to Week 2, where Manning has a chance to back Klatt’s patience and silence critics like Finebaum as the Longhorns try to rebound.