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Oklahoma football: Former Sooner likes idea of Arch Manning as a Longhorn

By Chip Rouse

Quarterback Arch Manning (16) throws a pass as Newman takes on Lafayette Christian Academy in the LHSAA Division III semifinals on Nov. 24, 2021.Arch Manning
Quarterback Arch Manning (16) throws a pass as Newman takes on Lafayette Christian Academy in the LHSAA Division III semifinals on Nov. 24, 2021.Arch Manning /
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If you’re within earshot of Sports Radio 1400 “The Ref” you may have heard what former Oklahoma football star Teddy Lehman had to say about the idea of Texas reeling in the country’s top 2023 quarterback recruit.

If not, we thought we’d bring you in the loop and add some context on the recruitment battle going on for one Arch Manning, whose famous grandfather shares the same name and who is the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning.

The young Manning is the No. 1 quarterback prospect in the 2023 was in Austin, Texas, over the weekend, making a final recruiting visit to Texas, one of the three finalist schools he is considering for his college destination. The other two finalists are heavyweights Alabama and Georgia.

There is some speculation that Texas will be the final choice of the next generation of Manning quarterbacks.

Earlier last week on “The Rush” program Lehman co-hosts with Tyler McComas, the former Oklahoma All-American surprisingly went on record saying he actually hopes Texas lands the five-star, elite quarterback prospect.

The prime reason Lehman gave for liking the idea of Arch Manning at Texas was because it would be a huge boost to the Red River rivalry between the Sooners and Longhorns.

“Chris Simms (son of former NFL star QB and Super Bowl champion Phil Simms) goes to Texas, (everyone) saying, ‘Oh, my god, this is going to be a disaster.’ He was great, except against OU, where he was god awful,” Lehman said.

“People still hate Chris Simms, even though he never beat OU. And it’s lasted 20 years since he played,” Lehman continued. “It would be the exact same thing with Arch Manning. I don’t know if you’d get him to throw zero touchdowns and 10 interceptions, whatever Simms threw, but it would be the same thing.

“Fans would jump all over it,” the former OU star said. “It would be the greatest thing to happen to the Big 12.”

I get the point Lehman is making, but while Manning becoming the next Texas quarterback might provide a huge spark for the Longhorns and the Red River rivalry, I’m not sure that would provide the same kind of benefit for OU.

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