Although week one of the college football season is still over seven weeks away, ESPN personality Paul Finebaum has made up his mind about what will transpire between Texas and Ohio State.
While complimenting Texas quarterback Arch Manning, the nephew of NFL greats Eli and Peyton Manning, during an episode of ESPN’s morning show, “Get Up,” Finebaum guaranteed the Longhorns will defeat the Buckeyes in week one.
“I am as married to Arch Manning as an old geezer like me can be to a young, great college quarterback, but I like everything about him,” Finebaum said. “The Manning name matters, but it isn’t going to matter on that field in a couple of weeks at Ohio State. The experience of being an understudy to (former Texas starting quarterback Quinn Ewers) and understanding (Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian’s) system is what’s going to get them over the top and probably — well, not probably — definitely beat Ohio State in the opener.”
Despite spending most of the 2024 season as a backup, Manning gained valuable experience when Ewers went down with an injury at the beginning of the season. For the most part, Manning took advantage of the opportunities given to him during his redshirt freshman season. In 10 games, the former five-star quarterback completed 67.8 percent of his passes for 939 yards, 9 passing touchdowns and two interceptions. Manning, who made brief appearances after Ewers returned as a run-first quarterback, finished the year with 25 carries, 108 yards and four rushing touchdowns.
Still, for Manning, who gained the vast majority of his playing time in 2024 during games against UTSA, Louisiana Monroe and Mississippi State, the defending-champion Buckeyes will present an unmatched challenge.
The Buckeyes, who defeated Texas in the 2024 Cotton Bowl on the way to winning the national championship, will attempt to prove Finebaum wrong in front of their home fans at Noon on Aug. 30.
