Arch Manning Stunk Up the Joint — And That’s the Truth

Let’s stop the nonsense.

Let’s stop the fairy tales.

Let’s stop this obsession with crowning people before they’ve done a damn thing.

Because what I saw Saturday night in Columbus, Ohio, from Arch Manning?

That wasn’t “Heisman favorite.” That wasn’t “No. 1 overall pick.”

That was a reminder that hype, name recognition, and bloodlines don’t win football games.

PERFORMANCE does.

And Arch Manning didn’t perform.

Period.

Let’s look at the facts:

• 17-of-30 passing for 170 yards.

• One touchdown. One interception.

• Didn’t complete a pass longer than 10 yards in the air until the FOURTH quarter.

• A 37% off-target rate — the worst by any Texas quarterback in a decade (per ESPN Research).

This wasn’t Peyton. This wasn’t Eli. This wasn’t even Cooper. This was a kid who looked overwhelmed on the road, with scouts from a dozen NFL teams in the stands, including the Cleveland Browns just a couple of hours away.

And don’t come to me talking about, “It was his first game… it was Ohio State at The Shoe.” 

Please.

Spare me.

Bryce Underwood, a TRUE freshman at Michigan, looked sharper against New Mexico in his debut.

Different opponent, sure. But sharper nonetheless.

Here’s the thing: it wasn’t just the stats. It was the look. The body language. The indecision. The lack of command.

This was a quarterback who looked like the moment was too big. And that, for all the hype, all the commercials, and all the “next Manning” chatter, is a problem.

And before you think I’m just piling on: Arch himself admitted it. After the game, he said, “I’ve got to play better for us to win.” 

Damn right. Because Texas isn’t winning anything if THAT’S the Arch Manning they’re getting every week.

Now listen — I’m not writing his obituary. He’s young. He’s talented. He CAN bounce back.

But this is why I said from the jump: STOP CROWNING PEOPLE BEFORE THEY EARN IT.

Compare this to Shedeur Sanders. Remember him? The kid who was doubted at every step.

Who folks said couldn’t cut it when he left Jackson State. Who was CRUCIFIED by media members who refused to give him his flowers.

And what did Shedeur do? He went out and WON. Two SWAC titles. Johnny Unitas Award. First-team All-American. Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. Broke records at Colorado. Finished with over 14,000 yards and 134 touchdowns in his college career.

See the difference? Shedeur proved it. Arch Manning was handed it.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why Saturday mattered. Because for the first time in a long time, Arch had to prove he was more than just a last name.

And instead, he gave us a debut to forget.

So yes, he can improve. Yes, he can still be special. But until he SHOWS US, until he DELIVERS, until he looks like more than a rattled kid living off the Manning hype machine, I don’t want to hear another word about Heisman or NFL Draft No. 1 pick.

Because right now?

All Arch Manning proved is that hype doesn’t complete passes. And football doesn’t care about your last name.