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One of the biggest stories in college football this season is unfolding in Austin, Texas. Arch Manning, the grandson of college football legend Archie Manning and the nephew of NFL icons Peyton and Eli Manning, is set to take over as the starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns.
Manning was the top overall recruit in the 2023 class and is considered one of the best prospects of all time. In his first two seasons, he primarily served as the backup to Quinn Ewers. However, Manning did have a stretch where he played three quarters of one game and then started the next two after Ewers suffered an injury.
During those three games, Manning threw for 806 yards, completed eight touchdown passes, and recorded two interceptions, achieving a completion rate of 69.4%. He also rushed for 82 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 8.2 yards per carry. Despite these impressive statistics, Paul Finebaum revealed on his show, "The Paul Finebaum Show," that he has some doubts about the Manning hype heading into 2025.
"Other than the hype, why are we so excited about Arch Manning?" Finebaum asked. "
Finebaum acknowledged that Manning has performed well in the games he has played. However, he is uncertain about Manning's ability to handle critical situations, such as facing a third-and-12 with the game on the line.
A similar scenario occurred last year for Texas. Instead of a third-and-12, it was a fourth-and-13 in overtime during the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. With the ball on Arizona State's 28-yard line, Ewers completed a 28-yard touchdown pass to Mathew Golden, which tied the game. The Longhorns ultimately won 39-31 in the second overtime. This is the type of pressure that Finebaum questions whether Manning can withstand.
Texas and Manning are likely to encounter such high-stakes situations next season, as they face several challenging games, including matchups against the Ohio State Buckeyes to open the season on August 30, the Georgia Bulldogs, the Florida Gators, a neutral-site game against the Oklahoma Sooners and a home game against the Texas A&M Aggies.
More must-reads:
- Giants GM leaves door open for potential Russell Wilson, Jaxson Dart decision
- Commanders' Jayden Daniels discusses Terry McLaurin's holdout amid contract dispute
- The 'Most NBA games played' quiz
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