Someone was finally honest and spoke up about all this Arch Manning hype that's coming out of Texas.
ESPN analyst and former Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray, who knows all about succeeding in the SEC, was on College Sports on SiriusXM with Dari Nowkhah and finally became the first one to put a reality check on the Manning hype that has been inflating since before he even got to Austin.
"I want them all to have success, but I need to see it first," Murray said "I'm not going to crown you this All-American superstar when I haven't seen you do it. Right now, I would have (Mainning) middle of the pack in the SEC when it comes to quarterbacks."
ESPN's Aaron Murray was finally honest about Arch Manning hype at Texas
Manning is set to take over as Texas' starting quarterback this season as a redshirt sophomore after backing up future NFL practice squad standout Quinn Ewers the last two years. Manning has started only two games in his career while Ewers was injured, but from that tiny sample size and his DNA, the world has declared Manning the next greatest quarterback and No. 1 overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft.
In those two starts against Louisiana Monroe and Mississippi State, Manning completed 68% of his passes for 583 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions. He also ran for a score against Mississippi State. Those numbers aren't too shabby, and Manning honestly looked good in both outings, albeit against weak teams. But not Cam Ward or Bryce Young good. Or apparently even Quinn Ewers good, which is the glaring question Murray finally asked out loud.
Texas fans clamored for the promised child Manning to replace Ewers all season, so even they saw what Murray pointed out. But Steve Sarkisian is the one at practice everyday and his livelihood depends on winning football games, and he still believed a limping Ewers gave the Longhorns the best chance.
Ultimately, Texas fell short and Ewers was barely good enough to get drafted in the seventh round. Yet, apparently the Longhorns had the No. 1 pick standing on the sidelines. Either it's the biggest coaching blunder in decades in college football or the hype isn't real, so Manning really wasn't the better option.
"If you are so good and everyone has you projected No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft come 2026, why in the hell are you not playing above a seventh-round quarterback," Murray questioned. "If Steve Sarkisian knows what he's doing, and he knows how good their roster is, which I've talked to a lot of coaches on a lot of different teams, and I ask them, 'What are the top rosters?' Ohio State, Texas, probably Georgia. What was holding them back? Quinn Ewers.
"Why was Arch not playing? That rubs me the wrong way a little bit. And then you watch the tape, and yeah it looks good at times -- I wouldn't say it looks incredible. It doesn't scream first-round talent to me. And I'm not saying he can't get there. And I'm never going to talk bad about a quarterback, because I know how difficult it is. I'm cheering for him just like I cheer for every quarterback."