Paul Finebaum Takes Blame for What Happened to Texas QB Arch Manning

"I think the media hyped him up too much, and I'm at the tip of that spear," Finebaum said. "Because we all wanted him to be great, and thought he would be great. I think he still will be great. In retrospect, it was unreal to expect him to do it Saturday."

Paul Finebaum Hypes Arch Manning All Offseason

Finebaum acknowledged that he was leading the Manning hype as the season began. He even drew a comparison between Manning and Heisman Trophy winner and two-time national champion Tim Tebow on "SEC Nation" before the game.

“He’s the best player we’ve seen from every aspect since Tim Tebow,” Finebaum previously said. “He hasn’t proven it yet, but in terms of magic and majesty and buzz, that’s where we are. People are going to be watching this game [Saturday] who would never normally watch a college football game.”

Joel Klatt Says Struggles Were Expected

Manning passed for 170 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception. He only managed to accumulate 50 yards passing through the first three quarters. Joel Klatt from Fox Sports, called the game, noted that Manning didn't perform well, but he believes this outcome was to be expected.

“No, he didn’t play well,” Klatt previously 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.”

David Pollack Explains What He Learned About Arch Manning

College football analyst David Pollack also commented on the game. He mentioned that he learned one important thing about Manning during the game.

“I learned Arch Manning just wasn’t ready for the moment, yet,” Pollack previously said. “That’s not his fault … that’s placed upon him. … He was sped up. He was hurried. That’s what happens when you go on the road. It’s hard to play on the road, especially at a place like Ohio State. … He was off target on like 30% of his throws, which is not a good number. I would imagine that will be his worst game.”

What’s Next for Manning and Texas?

Manning’s first test as the face of Texas football may not have lived up to the headlines, but analysts agree that one game doesn’t define his future. With a softer Week 2 opponent in the San Jose State Spartans, Manning will have the chance to settle in and regain confidence before the Longhorns hit conference play.

Finebaum, Klatt and Pollack offered different takes, but the message was the same: Manning still has the talent to deliver on the hype, but how quickly he adjusts will determine whether Texas remains a contender this fall.