The first full slate of college football kicks off Saturday, and all eyes will be on the matchup between the No. 1 Texas Longhorns and the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes. The most intriguing part of the game is the quarterback matchup between Arch Manning and Julian Sayin.
Both are unproven, but a strong performance could have them make their mark early in the 2025 season. A former Texas head coach revealed what he believes will be the deciding factor in the two quarterbacks’ duel and why Manning might have the edge over Sayin.
Former Texas Head Coach Breaks Down What Will Decide Arch Manning vs. Julian Sayin Showdown
Both Manning and Sayin are still largely unproven at the college level. Manning has two career starts and 95 career pass attempts, while Sayin has yet to start a game and has thrown just 12 passes.
The Week 1 showdown between the Buckeyes and Longhorns will be the biggest game either quarterback has ever started.
Despite both quarterbacks’ glaring lack of experience, former Texas head coach Mack Brown pointed out on “The Stampede” podcast that Manning could have the edge, thanks to his experience in key moments for the Longhorns last season, while Sayin has yet to play in a game of this scale.
“The pressure on Julian Sayin in this ball game at home for the first time,” Brown said. “He completed five passes out of 12 last year, and he’s going against one of the best defenses in the country. And where Arch has at least played in tough games in critical situations.”
Brown isn’t wrong. While Manning didn’t start in any significant games for Texas in 2024, he saw action in the Longhorns’ matchup against Georgia in the SEC Championship and their College Football Playoff games against Clemson and Ohio State.
Sayin, on the other hand, appeared in only four games last year, including Ohio State’s CFP matchup against Tennessee. However, his time on the field didn’t carry the same intensity as Manning’s appearances, since the Buckeyes had already secured the win by the time Sayin entered the game.
Both Manning and Sayin are extremely talented, and while Brown believes Manning’s experience in high-stakes games gives him an edge, the reality is that neither quarterback has ever faced a situation like Saturday’s, when they walk out as their team’s starter in Ohio Stadium.
The good news is fans won’t have to wait long to see if Brown is right about Manning having an edge over Sayin. The Texas vs. Ohio State matchup kicks off at 12:00 p.m. EST on Saturday, August 30, with coverage on FOX.