The Arch Manning hype at Texas is legit, and then some. Manning has yet to take over the reigns in Austin. Still, all signs point in one direction – Arch-mania – after Quinn Ewers declared for the NFL draft instead of making one last run toward a national title after back-to-back semifinal exits.
Some even compare him to Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, who won the honor in 2007 and won a championship the following year as the starter for the Florida Gators. The other came as a backup two years earlier.
On3’s J.D. PicKell understands the intrigue with Manning, especially the family lineage and history that comes with living up to a legacy name. But PicKell said fans, specifically those who follow Texas religiously, need to come to grips with this being unchartered territory for Manning.
PicKell took a verbal jab at ESPN, suggesting an overblown talking point during a future First Take episode glorifying Manning into someone he isn’t.
“If Arch Manning goes out and they [Texas] beat Ohio State early in the season, the First Take segment you’re going to see – and this is no disrespect to First Take, good stuff over there. But the First Take segment you’ll see is, ‘Is Arch Manning the greatest Manning of all-time?'” PicKell said.
Pickell added the expectations for the Longhorns are sky-high but not far-fetched.
“If you’re a Texas fan and your expectation is for Arch Manning [to] take us to a national title, that’s not unreasonable,” PicKell said. “That’s not unreasonable because of who Arch Manning is.”
The jury appears to be out on Manning’s career longevity, but one thing is for certain: the Longhorns have been put on notice, even if they only cater to the slightest of college football observers.
The Buckeyes-Longhorns matchup is a rematch of the Cotton Bowl, which saw Ohio State beat Ewers’ Longhorns en route to an eventual national title win against Notre Dame.
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