Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning has many questioning if he's shoo-in to be a top NFL draft pick following a woeful performance against the Ohio State Buckeyes in a 14-7 loss at the "Shoe."
Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith believes the Manning family name's hype was not met with Arch's play.
"It's only one game, but Manning's performance today raises questions about whether he's really an elite pro prospect, or if he was overhyped because of his last name and the lineage of grandfather Archie Manning and uncles Peyton and Eli Manning. Archie Manning said before the season that he didn't think Arch would enter the 2026 NFL draft, and on the basis of today's game, Archie was perhaps even more correct than he knew: Arch doesn't look ready to be in the NFL next year," Smith wrote.
"Ohio State is the defending national champion and may prove to be the best team in college football this year, too. Perhaps Manning just ran into a tough opponent in the season opener and will bounce back over the course of this season. But it was a poor showing for a big-name quarterback whose play didn't live up to the name."
Manning was side-arming short throws from the pocket that sailed wide, overthrew several go-routes, and was turnover prone against the Buckeyes. With what will likely be one of the biggest audiences of the season watching, Manning looked nothing like a future NFL superstar.
He didn't look like a Manning either. Peyton and Eli broke records on the Tennessee Volunteers and Ole Miss Rebels. Arch looked like he was justifiably behind Quinn Ewers the last two years.
Perhaps Ohio State proves itself by season's end and this game is written off as an anomaly.
Either way, it won't be forgotten.
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