Texas quarterback Arch Manning and the Longhorns walked out of the Cotton Bowl with a bitter loss to unranked Oklahoma on Saturday, but the harshest postgame hit came from ESPN's Paul Finebaum. The outspoken analyst unloaded on Manning during an appearance on "The Matt Barrie Show," calling the young QB's decision-making "downright stupid" at times and questioning the outsized hype that has followed him since high school.
Manning's stat line looked respectable on paper: 19-of-31 passing for nearly 300 yards and three touchdowns. But two of those completions in the fourth quarter went to the wrong team, and the Sooners turned those mistakes into the winning points. It was a brutal finish to a game that Texas had chances to steal.
Finebaum: 'Not the Elite Player We Made Him Out to Be'
Finebaum didn't mince words when breaking down Manning's performance. He acknowledged the flashes of brilliance but zeroed in on the costly errors that doomed the Longhorns.
"We showed arrogance in believing that Arch Manning could do anything," Finebaum said. "And he almost did, except he finally got in the way of himself. I was really troubled by how he had played up to this point, and I came away thinking, 'I don't know what this guy is going to do.' Because he is not the elite player that we all tried to make him out to be."
The ESPN personality added that Manning "can be great in moments," pointing to a late throw that set up a touchdown, but followed it with a blunt assessment: "But he can just be downright stupid in others."
A Rollercoaster Career in Austin
Manning arrived at Texas as a five-star recruit and the most hyped quarterback prospect in years, largely because of his famous last name. But his college career has been a series of ups and downs. Saturday's loss was the latest reminder that potential doesn't always translate to production. The Red River upset will only intensify the scrutiny.
The fourth-quarter interceptions weren't just bad luck — they were the result of forcing throws into tight windows. Manning has shown a tendency to try to make something out of nothing, and against Oklahoma, that gambler's mentality backfired in the worst way. Fans have already started to cry bust on social media, and Finebaum's comments will only add fuel to that fire.
What's Next for Manning?
With the loss, Texas' playoff hopes took a serious hit. Manning now faces questions about whether he'll return for another season or declare for the NFL draft. Every Manning before him exhausted his college eligibility, and given his inconsistent play, another year in Austin might be exactly what he needs. But after a performance like Saturday's, nothing is guaranteed.
Finebaum's criticism may be harsh, but it reflects a growing sentiment: the hype around Arch Manning has outpaced his actual results. The talent is clearly there — the arm strength, the mobility, the football IQ — but until he cuts down on the boneheaded plays, he'll remain a lightning rod for critics. For now, the Longhorns are left to pick up the pieces after a devastating rivalry loss.
