Paul Finebaum says Arch Manning has to have a ‘monster game’ against Ohio State
By Jacob Moss
Published:
Week 2 of the 2026 college football season is set to feature one of the biggest matchups of the entire year, with the No. 1-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes traveling down south to take on the No. 4-ranked Texas Longhorns.
This heavyweight bout is a rematch of last season’s Week 1 matchup between these two juggernauts, a game Ohio State won 14-7, thanks in no small part to lackluster play from star Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning.
Now, Manning and Texas will be looking to avenge that loss on Saturday, and SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum believes that Arch has to have a “monster game” if the Longhorns want to knock off the top-ranked Buckeyes.
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“He has to have a monster game,” Finebaum told the cast of Get Up on Monday morning. “That game last year still shadows him a little bit. Steve Sarkisian said that that game probably helped Arch Manning more than any other game… Arch, if he doesn’t shine, I think it’s going to affect him, but most importantly Texas has to win that game.”
Arch and the Longhorns entered that Week 1 matchup in 2025 with all the hype in the world, but it was clear that the moment was a bit too big for the young Manning, as he finished with just 170 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception.
There’s no question that the star gunslinger has grown immensely since then, but Saturday’s rematch will show if he’s capable of rising to the occasion when it matters most.
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