“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. This is the best player we have seen from every aspect since Tim Tebow.” The problem is that’s exactly the kind of line that hasn’t aged well when it comes to Paul Finebaum’s glowing praise of Arch Manning. Just three games in, Finebaum’s excitement hit a wall after Manning’s rocky start this season. Manning’s completion rate sits at a disappointing 55.3%, with 579 yards, 6 touchdowns, but also 3 interceptions. And his game against UTEP was a wake-up call. He went 11-for-25 with 114 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, including a brutal stretch of 10 straight incompletions.

Finebaum didn’t sugarcoat it, saying, “Arch Manning is not playing like an elite quarterback. He’s barely playing like a pedestrian quarterback.” The analyst who hyped him so fiercely, even by comparing him to a two-time national champion and Heisman Trophy winner, is now stepping back, admitting, “I gave it a shot. It blew up. I like Arch. He’s going to be a great player someday, maybe some year, but not this year. It’s over.”Here’s the twist: Tim Tebow, the very player Arch was compared to, stepped in with some crucial advice.

“I’d encourage him, like man, you’re a gifted player,” Tebow said on ESPN’s Rich Eisen Show. “You’re a really good player. You just need to be encouraged. Remember it for the love of the game.” Tebow knows what it’s like to carry massive expectations and deal with the intense spotlight. “There’s just a lot of pressure, and the pressure is real. And it’s hard to sometimes explain that to people,” Tebow said. On top of that, if you are a Manning, the pressure comes at a different speed for you. See, Arch Manning’s struggle with expectations is all about being part of the most famous football family in history. The thing is, he wanted to be a good football player, but hated the fame that came with it.

The name “Manning” carries weight; it’s a burden as much as it is a blessing. Fans, media, and even sportsbooks have labeled Arch as a Heisman frontrunner and a potential No. 1 NFL draft pick before he had even fully proven himself on the field. His own family knows the struggle well. His father, Cooper Manning, who was once a promising athlete himself before a spinal condition shuttered his career, raised Arch with a focus on hard work over hype. But the pressures don’t stop. Unlike Peyton or Eli, who built their legacies over the years. Peyton finished with 71,940 passing yards and an incredible 539 touchdown passes, with five MVP awards, and led two franchises to Super Bowl victories. And Eli amassed 57,023 passing yards and 366 touchdowns while winning two Super Bowls and two Super Bowl MVPs.

You realize that’s the type of expectation fans have from Arch. “I have really appreciated the way he’s carried himself for three years now,” Tebow said. I appreciated the way that he’s handled it as a teammate with Quinn when he took over. The way he’s handled even some of the disappointments. I just think he’s a great example of someone who has handled hype and criticism.” You see, Arch wasn’t in a hurry to force his way onto the field or transfer elsewhere for an early starting role. During this backup period, Arch learned a ton by watching Ewers lead the Longhorns to two College Football Playoff semifinal appearances. He saw game action only when Ewers went down with an injury.

He benefited from strong mentorship from assistant coaches like Paul Chryst. But now, as he takes up the starting QB job, the three weeks haven’t really been easy for Arch. But he wants to get better. During the UTEP game, the Texas faithful let him hear their frustration with loud boos at DKR Stadium. Manning, a preseason Heisman favorite, admitted openly, “I’ve got to play better.” The thing is, Tim Tebow knows the type of pressure Arch’s facing. He admits it’s crucial not just to live up to the hype but to outdo himself. “It’s hard sometimes for people to just understand that if you can’t walk anywhere, you can’t really talk to anybody about it, because you know it’s hard,” Tebow added.

“So I think I just try to understand it and have just a level of understanding and a level of compassion for where he’s at.” Tebow might not have had a royal football surname like Manning, but he felt the weight of massive pressure all the same. Tebow was college football’s larger-than-life hero. The former Florida QB racked up 9,285 passing yards, 2,947 rushing yards, and 145 total touchdowns. When he switched to baseball at 29 and signed a minor league deal with the Mets, the spotlight still followed him. That said, it’s time we cut Arch Manning some slack.

Steve Sarkisian’s overprotection backfires

Steve Sarkisian is catching heat for the mental slump Arch Manning has been facing this season. The Texas coach’s effort to shield Arch from scrutiny seems to have backfired. After Texas’ rough outing against San Jose State, Arch was visibly wincing after some throws, sparking injury rumors. Instead of addressing concerns with openness, Sarkisian shot down the idea and snapped at reporters, creating a weird vibe.

Then, when Arch struggled badly against UTEP, completing just 11 of 25 passes with a touchdown and an interception, it became clear there were bigger issues at play. Analyst Danny Kannell called out Sarkisian on the Cover 3 Podcast, saying, “He looks like somebody who is really, really struggling.” Kannell argued that Sarkisian should have been more upfront about what was going on.

This denial made things worse because the pressure on Arch only grew. It seems Sarkisian kind of got stuck in a tough spot himself. Fans and commentators compared Arch’s slump to NBA players like Markelle Fultz and Ben Simmons, who faced confidence and mental blocks despite talent. Sarkisian now reportedly has about a week to turn things around, with analyst Scott Van Pelt saying Arch needs to “go out there and play with confidence.”