One of the biggest stories of the college football offseason was the fact that Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning didn't enter the NCAA transfer portal.
Texas fans knew all along that Manning was likely sticking around in Austin despite Quinn Ewers returning to the program for another season. There was never any truth to the rumblings that Manning might enter the portal.
But that didn't stop opposing fans from speculating that Manning could enter the portal in search of playing time.
Cedric Golden, a Texas insider who covers the Longhorns for the Austin American Statesman, joined Paul Finebaum on The Finebaum Show last week and he detailed a big reason why he thinks Manning didn't choose to leave Texas this offseason.
Finebaum asked Golden if he thinks any quarterback without the last name Manning would've left Texas this offseason.
"Yeah, I think he's gone (if Arch wasn't a Manning)," said Golden. "Guys don't stick around anymore, Paul. They leave. And they go where there's a nice financial incentive to play. Maalik Murphy was the backup (to Ewers) last year, he went to Duke. And I'm sure he got a bag (NIL deal) to go to Duke.
"And so, I just don't think that he's (Manning) built like other quarterbacks -- the fact that he's from a family of millionaires. He's from the first family of quarterbacks and so I think he's in a different headspace. He's turned down a chance to be in the EA Sports video game because he's not playing. And that's a Manning thing. I think any other backup that was offered that would jump at the chance. If he was any other guy, because there's only one Manning family, that's the first family of quarterbacks in America, if he's a member of any other family, I think he's already transferred by now."
Golden is probably right. Manning knows he's going to get his chance in an offense that he views as best suited to showcase his skillset. And because of his last name, he's going to have plenty of eyes on him regardless of when he gets that opportunity. He also doesn't need the cash because of his family.
Ultimately, it's refreshing that Manning is sticking around at Texas and waiting his turn. But make no mistake -- that almost certainly wouldn't be the case if he had a different last name.
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