The first week of the college football season began in late August. Thousands of fans packed into stadiums across the nation or sat around a television screen, cheering on the next class of college football players and Heisman hopefuls. One game that was being watched intently by millions was the number one-ranked Texas Longhorns against the third-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes.
All summer, everyone had been eagerly waiting to watch this game because of one player specifically: Arch Manning. Enter Longhorns’ redshirt sophomore and starting quarterback. The nephew of former NFL quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning, Arch entered the season with sky-high expectations set by sports media, labeling him as the next great college football star, the heir to a legendary football bloodline.
He threw for 170 yards, completing 17 of 30 pass attempts, with one touchdown and one interception in a 7-14 loss to the Buckeyes.
After that game, Manning’s hopes and dreams were immediately debated. Weeks Two and Three ended in the win column, 38-7 vs San Jose State and 27-10 vs University of Texas at El Paso, but the inconsistencies continued. He threw for 295 yards and four touchdowns against SJSU, but then dropped in efficiency against UTEP, going just 11 for 25 passes for 114 yards. His performance was so underwhelming that even Longhorn fans booed him.
This frustration then raises the question: how can a name and expectations be such a double-edged sword for a college athlete? In an ever-evolving college football game, why is one player judged above the rest? Being on a national title contender, having a $6.8 million Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) valuation, and a last name synonymous with football, Arch was bound to have a high standard.
But greatness isn’t inherited, it’s earned and built. Having two uncles who won Super Bowls casts a shadow on a young quarterback like Arch. Longhorn fans, and college football fans in general, expect him to dominate simply because his family has achieved football greatness all across the board. A flash of talent is met with loud cheers, while a slight mistake or falter brings instant criticism and negativity towards the player that you were cheering for a few seconds ago. Every snap the Longhorns take, Arch isn’t only going against an opposing defense but his own last name.
Adding to the mounting pressure is the business side of college football. Manning is the highest valued athlete in college sports, earning millions from endorsements with companies like Panini, Red Bull, and Vuori. These deals increase the focus on him, blending on-field performances with off-field marketability. Soon, valuable athletes like him are more than just players; they’re brands. This branding comes with good and bad, just as his athletic expectations had. Across social media, his every move on and off the field is subject to constant critique. Every interview, highlight, and picture is dissected, all for the world to see. A 24-7 spotlight on him, not just limited to Saturdays.
Through the first few weeks of the college football season, Arch Manning may not have lived up to the high bar set for him. He’s still growing and learning, and that’s what makes college football so compelling. Young athletes are facing all sorts of pressure and challenges, some more than others, and everyone stumbles before finding their balance and footing. In an era of sports where patience is short, players like Arch are rarely given time and space to learn and develop.
Whether he becomes a star like those who have worn the last name Manning on their jersey in the past, his journey will be shaped by how he responds. If he rises above the noise, the media and the boos, his legacy won’t be defined by who he’s related to; it’ll be defined by what he earns. And maybe, in the end, that’s the kind of story that’s worth watching and waiting for.
