Texas may be sitting pretty at No. 1 in the country, but not everything is rosy in Austin. Arch Manning, the most famous backup-turned-starter in college football, has yet to live up to the immense hype that followed him to campus. And now, one prominent analyst is pouring cold water on the young quarterback's stock.
ESPN's Josh Pate recently unveiled his rankings of every starting quarterback in the SEC, and the news isn't good for the Longhorns' signal-caller. Despite Texas' undefeated record, Pate has Manning slotted at No. 9 among SEC quarterbacks — a far cry from the preseason top-five buzz that surrounded the nephew of Peyton and Eli.
Through the first four games, Manning has completed 63.5% of his passes for 862 yards, with seven touchdowns and three interceptions. While those numbers aren't disastrous, they haven't exactly screamed "superstar." Outside of a dazzling season-opening performance against Texas State, Manning has looked human — and critics are starting to take notice.
Pate's ranking puts Manning behind a host of SEC arms, including several who play for teams with far less national attention. The list, which has sparked heated debate among fans, is just the latest chapter in the ongoing conversation about whether Manning is truly ready for the NFL.
That conversation took another turn this week when Robert Griffin III, the former Baylor Heisman winner and NFL quarterback, joined The Herd to weigh in. Griffin urged Manning to return to Texas for the 2027 season, saying, "I believe he should come back for another year. When guys are ready to go to the NFL, playing college football looks easy for them. For myself when I came out, when Andrew Luck came out, it looked easy in our last years. It doesn't look easy for Arch yet."
Griffin's comments echo those made just over a month ago by former ESPN analyst Todd McShay, who suggested that Manning might benefit from another year under Steve Sarkisian's tutelage. The idea of a third season in Austin is gaining traction, especially as the NFL draft chatter grows louder.
But Manning's struggles aren't just about stats. There have been moments of brilliance, but also head-scratching decisions and a few too many turnovers. For a player who was once considered the next great Manning, the pressure to perform at an elite level every Saturday is immense.
Adding to the narrative, some have pointed to Manning's awkward interactions with the media, which have occasionally made headlines for the wrong reasons. While those moments are hardly indicative of his on-field ability, they contribute to the perception that he's not fully comfortable in the spotlight.
Of course, Texas fans will be quick to remind you that the Longhorns are undefeated and ranked No. 1. And Sarkisian's offense has shown flashes of explosiveness. But if Manning wants to silence the doubters, he'll need to do more than just manage games.
The debate over Manning's future is far from settled. Will he declare for the NFL after this season, or will he heed the advice of Griffin and others to stay in school for another year? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the spotlight on Austin's golden boy isn't dimming anytime soon.
