Arch Manning Drops Unexpected Truth About his Weight Along With Major Alabama Statement

Get ready for the “biggest college football game in a decade,” as Colin Cowherd put it. No. 1 Texas vs No. 3 Ohio State on August 30. Both teams have reloaded after heavy NFL Draft losses, yet the talent on the field promises fireworks. No wonder ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. called it the most anticipated contest of his career. And amid the anticipation, all eyes are glued to one legacy name: Arch Manning. 

The name alone carries weight. Standing 6’4 with a QB’s frame, Arch Manning admits a lot of people get this wrong about him off the field, particularly his physique. On August 29, Bleacher Report dropped a fascinating update on the Longhorns’ QB. “I’m a lot bigger than people think, which I guess is a good thing. I don’t know. Fatter? I got big legs. I’m trying to get bigger on my upper half,” he said, shrugging off the public’s assumptions while teasing fans with a glimpse behind the curtain. 

That teasing masks a QB capable of jaw-dropping moments. Last season, Arch Manning carved his name into record books with a performance that belongs in highlight reels. In one electrifying outing, he became the only FBS or NFL QB in the past 25 years to throw a touchdown of 75+ yards, rush for a 65+ yard score, and add another pass of 50+ yards in the same game. That’s precision, vision, and athleticism stitched together with Manning DNA.

Maybe his plays are still limited but he showed flashes whenever he got the chance. Across his starts, Arch Manning’s numbers were equally compelling. Undefeated as a starter at 2-0, he threw for 583 yards and five total touchdowns, completing 67.8% of his passes for 939 yards and nine touchdowns with just two interceptions. Every throw seemed calculated, every run purposeful. But the stats only tell half the story. And while his play on the field commands attention, his perspective off the field, especially on the sport’s fiercest rivalries, reveals another layer of his football mind.

Arch Manning makes a fascinating Alabama comment

Arch Manning’s insight into college football rivalries offers a peek at the mind of a true student of the game. Asked about the most intense matchups, he rattled off their own rivals including Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Arkansas. “But then again, there’s a bunch of good rivals. I know Michigan – Ohio State, Alabama – Auburn, Georgia – Florida, there’s a bunch,” he added. And when pressed on his personal favorite to watch? “Alabama – Auburn, just SEC, so I think that was my favorite,” he admitted. But his allegiance goes towards the Crimson Tide. “Growing up, I’d probably lean more towards Alabama,” he admitted. 

Saturday, though, is about more than preferences or hypotheticals. It’s about survival in Ohio Stadium, facing a hostile crowd of over 100,000 screaming Buckeyes. This historic opener is the first time Ohio State has started a season against the No. 1 team, a rematch of last year’s CFP semifinal, where the Buckeyes came away with a 28-14 victory. Arch Manning knows what’s at stake, and the gauntlet of Columbus is ready to test whether he’s more than just pedigree.

For Texas fans, it’s a stage. And Arch Manning is ready to step onto it, shrug off the misconceptions, and show the nation what Longhorn football can do when a true heir to the Manning legacy is at the helm.