Is Arch Manning Overrated? Analyst Sparks Debate with Harsh Comparison to SEC’s Lowest-Ranked QBs

The buzz surrounding Arch Manning has echoed throughout college football ever since he took his first high school snap. As the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning and the grandson of College Football Hall of Famer Archie Manning, Arch was practically born into the sport. Add to that his No. 1 overall recruit status in the 2023 class, and expectations skyrocketed before he even set foot on Texas’ campus.

A prominent analyst recently lit a firestorm across the college football landscape by boldly claiming that Arch Manning may be more media hype than future superstar. In a blunt segment on a national sports talk show, the analyst said Manning isn’t currently on par with the top quarterbacks in the SEC — in fact, he likened the Longhorns backup to the bottom-tier signal-callers in the conference.

The analyst, whose comments aired on a high-profile sports network, questioned why Manning continues to be treated as a future Heisman contender when he has yet to earn the starting role or produce on the field.

“People act like he’s the second coming of his uncles,” the analyst stated. “But the truth is, Arch hasn’t proven anything at the college level. If you stack him up against SEC quarterbacks — especially the ones struggling at the bottom of the standings — he fits in more with them than with the elite.”

It was a brutal assessment, one that contrasts starkly with the narrative fans have come to expect. Manning has long been viewed as a generational talent — a QB who can resurrect the Texas program and lead the Longhorns to national relevance again.

Adding more weight to the analyst’s remarks is the fact that Manning hasn’t cracked the starting lineup. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian has stuck with veteran Quinn Ewers, who played well in 2023 and led Texas to a College Football Playoff berth. Ewers’ experience, poise, and command of Sarkisian’s offense have made it nearly impossible for Manning to leapfrog him.

Even Maalik Murphy, a former four-star QB, saw more meaningful snaps in 2023 before transferring to Duke. Manning’s action came mostly in blowouts or spring games — and while his arm strength and mobility have flashed, it hasn’t been enough to dethrone Ewers or silence doubters.

The analyst referenced this too, saying: “If he was truly elite, he’d be starting. Period. You can’t have a top recruit just sitting on the bench unless he’s not ready.”

That harsh judgment may overlook the context of Texas’ stacked quarterback room and the development timeline of young QBs. Still, it raises an uncomfortable question for Texas fans: how long do you wait for the prodigy to live up to the name?

Several SEC programs are dealing with quarterback turnover or underperformance. Teams like Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, and Florida have struggled to find consistent play under center. The analyst compared Manning to these types of QBs, suggesting he’d be “just another guy” in those programs — a damning statement, considering Manning was once heralded as a franchise-changer.

Not everyone agrees with the analyst’s take. Many still see Manning as a gifted passer with rare football IQ and elite pedigree. They argue he’s simply biding his time, learning behind a talented veteran, and will blossom when his number is called.

“Arch is doing it the right way,” one former coach said. “He’s sitting, learning, getting stronger. That’s what smart programs do. Not everyone needs to start as a freshman to prove they’re elite.”

Texas fans point to Joe Burrow and Michael Penix Jr. as examples of quarterbacks who took time to develop but eventually exploded once the situation was right.

For now, Manning remains the No. 2 or No. 3 quarterback on the depth chart, and barring injury, he may not see significant playing time in 2025 either. That could lead to more speculation — or even transfer rumors — depending on how long Ewers stays in Austin.