Arch Manning was just gaining momentum. Victories against San Jose and UTEP followed by a clean sweep against Sam Houston, 55-0. The Texas QB1 still had issues, but you could see an upward trajectory. The Swamp put a screeching break to that climb. A 21-29 loss, and the spotlight again fell on Steve Sarkisian’s prized quarterback. After throwing two interceptions and getting sacked six times, the ‘hook’em’ fandom was again at a loss for words. For it was the Manning legacy they rallied behind. But maybe that very Manning pedigree is the culprit behind his present woes.

“The thing that’s working against Arch is expectations and that last name,” Shannon Sharpe says in a conversation with Chad Johnson and Johnny Manziel on the October 4 episode of the Nightcap. Every time you hear his name, you are also reminded of who his grandfather was. The next sentence is about his uncles, Peyton and Eli. Super Bowl honors, Pro Bowl selections, and in each of their careers, great college football records. So far, Arch hasn’t shown anything that he’d follow the trajectory.

“Y’all really thought that Arch Manning was going to be Peyton? Y’all really thought that?” Sharpe puts forth the question. Ocho answered with a yes. “Most of the time, it (the talent from the lineage) trickles down one after another.”

Hopping into the conversation, Johnny Manziel, who is the first freshman to win the Heisman honor (at Texas A&M), digs further into the mental side of these things. “It’s how to carry yourself side of things. It’s what you see from the greats that you’ve been around with access that nobody in the world gets to see.” Being the nephew of two NFL legends and the grandson of Archie Manning, he had access to the learnings and experiences that other QBs didn’t have.

Paul Finebaum went big on the Arch claim, comparing him to Tim Tebow, but jumped off the hype train after the Ohio State loss. But to the skeptics, who didn’t buy into the preseason hype, Arch’s high school tapes were one of the reasons. The Longhorns QB earned a big reputation as an eighth grader in 2019, with his first ‘varsity dart’ culminating in a title. At Isidore Newman High School, a powerhouse 7-on-7 unit, which had been winning the LSU camp for years. Arch entered and led them to another title.

Over his high school career, he chipped in 115 TD over 42 games per MaxPreps. But the impressive numbers do not paint the picture of the opposing defense. “When you go watch Arch Manning’s highlight tape,” Manziel continued.  “And you see the dudes that are chasing after him; my grandma in a wheelchair moved faster than some of them boys they were chasing after him, right?”

Bottom Line: Arch Manning did not face the competition that could have prepared him for SEC defenses. “And it’s not his fault,” Manziel continued, soothing the burn. “That’s just where he went to high school.” But then again, Arch is on a learning curve. Peyton and Eli are right behind him, supporting him with their invaluable experience. Manziel added. “If Texas goes eight and four this year after being preseason number one, that’s a hungry offseason. That’s growth.”

Arch’s comparison to Eli and Peyton Manning

Much to college fandom’s surprise, zooming down to Arch, Peyton and Eli’s first six collegiate starts, the Longhorns QB is not left far behind. Peyton Manning, during his time at Tennessee, completed 1,682 yards, while Eli completed 1,657 yards. Similarly, Arch has completed 1,623 yards over six games (two last season + 2025’s four starts).

Talking about touchdowns, Arch beats his uncles with 19 touchdowns over six starts. Peyton had tallied 13 touchdowns while Eli had 14 TDs. Moreover, all three individuals had a 5-1 collegiate start. As expected, Arch tops the chart again, but this time it’s the interceptions that have got him ranked higher. Over his first six games, he threw five interceptions, while Peyton threw three and Eli registered one interception.

So, does the comparison with his uncles still make a strong case? After the upsetting loss in the Swamp, Outkick’s Austin Perry says, “To his credit, Arch has something in common with his Uncle Peyton with this subpar showing in North Florida,” he wrote. “The former Tennessee quarterback famously went 0-4 against the Gators during his college career, and it’s safe to say he turned out okay, so this isn’t the end of the road for Arch.”