
As expected, Arch Manning and the Texas Longhorns didn't find much trouble in Week 1.
Their 59-7 win over Texas State felt more like a dress rehearsal and a tune-up sparring session ahead of next week's high-flying matchup against Ohio State.
Manning completed 20-of-27 passes for 305 yards, four scores and one pick. Notably, he'll face a much tougher challenge when he goes against Ryan Day's team.
That's why ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum wants him to know what's at stake. On "Get Up," he put Manning on notice about the importance of the upcoming matchup.
“I hate to come down on Arch, but he has to have a monster game because that game last year still shadows him a little bit,” Finebaum said. “You understand what that’s like, having a bad game. If he doesn’t shine, I think it’s going to affect him. But most importantly, Texas has to win that game because that’s going to be on Sarkisian.”
.@finebaum believes Arch Manning has to have a “MONSTER GAME” for Texas vs. Ohio State ✍️ pic.twitter.com/pR0XwVz0FW
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) September 7, 2026
Manning had one of his modest games of the 2025 season in a 14-7 loss to Ohio state.
He completed just 17-of-30 passes for 170 yards, one touchdown and one pick, and while it wasn't entirely on him, it certainly wasn't a good look for one of the most hyped players in college football history.
Now, he'll square off against Julian Sayin again in a battle of two projected top picks in the stacked 2027 NFL Draft.
Manning's first season as a starter was highly polarizing, and with all eyes on him and a date with the No. 1 team in the nation, this will be the perfect opportunity to prove that he's much more than just the name on the back of his jersey.
More must-reads:
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!