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The lights were bright, the stage was massive, and all eyes were on Arch Manning. For months, the Texas Longhorns quarterback was hyped as not just the future of the program. He was potentially the face of the 2026 NFL Draft. Yet, after one deflating performance in front of a national audience, the narrative is no longer as rosy. Suddenly, Manning is no longer the golden child of football lineage. Rather, he has become the focal point of heated debates about whether the name ‘Manning’ is carrying him further than his play deserves.
Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning opened the 2025 college football season with a performance that has many questioning whether he’s truly a lock to be a top NFL Draft pick. In a 14-7 loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes, Manning struggled mightily. Sure, it was only one game. However, the showing reignited doubts about whether he’s an elite pro prospect or simply a product of the hype surrounding his famous last name and his lineage. Arch, of course, is the grandson of Archie Manning and nephew of Peyton and Eli.
Before the season, Archie himself suggested that Arch might not enter the 2026 NFL Draft. After watching Saturday’s game, that assessment looks more accurate than ever. Arch did not look ready for the NFL stage.
Throughout the contest, Arch sprayed short passes that sailed wide, overthrew multiple deep routes, and turned the ball over under pressure. On a national stage with one of the season’s biggest audiences watching, he looked nothing like the next Manning destined for NFL stardom. While Peyton and Eli shattered records at Tennessee and Ole Miss, Arch’s play more closely resembled a quarterback still rightfully stuck behind Quinn Ewers the past two seasons.
Here we will look at and discuss four NFL Draft overreactions after Arch Manning’s brutal debut vs. Ohio State.
The knee-jerk reaction to Saturday’s loss is that Arch Manning simply isn’t ready to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft. Scouts who were once enamored with his potential are now questioning whether he has the polish, poise, and consistency needed to succeed at the next level. His accuracy woes against Ohio State fueled the perception that he’s closer to a developmental prospect than a plug-and-play starter.
Some analysts are already moving him from ‘first-round lock’ to ‘wait-and-see project.’ This suggests that 2027 might be his real window if he matures. Note that the draft calendar has always been unkind to quarterbacks who flame out in their showcase moments. Arch’s stumble has left evaluators circling his name not with excitement, but with caution.
Before kickoff, there was talk that Arch was the preseason Heisman favorite. He was ready to torch defenses and write his own chapter in the Manning family saga. By the end of the night, that talk had collapsed. Instead, the narrative shifted to the...
