Paul Finebaum stirred conversation after labeling Arch Manning a “bust” following Texas’ 14-7 loss to Ohio State in the season opener. The highly anticipated debut for the Longhorns’ quarterback failed to meet expectations, and Finebaum did not hold back. Despite his harsh critique, Finebaum cautioned against overreaction.
Paul Finebaum Labels Arch Manning a “Bust” After Texas Falls 14-7 to Ohio State
Finebaum did not hold back when assessing Manning’s debut as Texas’ starting quarterback. Appearing on SportsCenter after the Longhorns’ 14-7 loss to Ohio State, the ESPN analyst was blunt about what he saw from the former top recruit.
“He was underwhelming, he was sub-optimal, just fill in the blank here. Mostly, he was terrible,” Finebaum said. “And I think the biggest problem he had was the other side completely outmatched him, not only offensively, physically, but scheme-wise. And I know a lot of people are hitting the panic button and saying that he will be a bust.”
He continued, saying, “He was a bust in his first game of this season, but I don’t think he will be long-term in the 12-team playoff (era). There is a lot of time to get better, and I believe he will.”
Manning’s performance fell short of the lofty expectations. He completed 17 of 30 passes for 170 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Following the game, the sophomore accepted accountability.
“Ultimately, not good enough,” Manning said. “Obviously, you don’t want to start off the season 0-1. They’re a good team. I thought we beat ourselves a lot, and that starts with me. I’ve got to play better for us to win.”
The preseason hype surrounding Manning’s first start had been immense. Finebaum admitted to being among those who expected more. Head coach Steve Sarkisian addressed the outside scrutiny following the loss.
“For Arch, the expectations were out of control on the outside,” Sarkisian said, via Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger. “I’d say let’s finish the book before we judge him. That’s one chapter.”
Steve Sarkisian on Arch: “For Arch, the expectations were out of control on the outside. I’d say let’s finish the book before we judge him. That’s one chapter.”
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) August 30, 2025
Sarkisian acknowledged Manning’s uneven performance but also highlighted encouraging signs.
“We saw some real flashes and glimpses of the type of player that he’s going to become here,” he said. “Sure, he’s going to watch the tape and say ‘man, I wish this. I wish that.’ That’s the life of a competitor, but I think there’s a lot to hold onto of what the future is going to look like for Arch Manning here.”
Steve Sarkisian: “We saw some real flashes and glimpses of the type of player that he’s going to become here. Sure, he’s going to watch the tape and say ‘man, I wish this. I wish that.’ That’s the life of a competitor, but I think there’s a lot to hold onto of what the future is…
— Inside Texas (@InsideTexas) August 30, 2025
With the loss, Texas now faces a pivotal stretch before opening SEC play at Florida. While Finebaum’s comments added to the immediate pressure, the Longhorns believe Manning still has the tools to live up to the hype.