‘Not a Clear-Cut QB1 Yet,’ ‘Best Win of His College Career’ — Texas Star Arch Manning’s ‘Up-and-Down Outing’ vs. Ohio State Divides CFB Analysts
· Yahoo Sports
Arch Manning proved Saturday that he can overcome adversity and rise to the occasion when it matters most.
In the matchup between No. 4 Texas and No. 1 Ohio State, Manning and the Longhorns’ offense managed just three points through the first three quarters, making it seem like all hope was lost.
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Manning eventually found his rhythm and led Texas to a stunning 24-23 comeback victory over the Buckeyes, leaving college football analysts divided over his overall performance.
CFB Analysts React to Arch Manning’s Stunning Comeback vs. Ohio State
The Buckeyes dominated the first three quarters and built a 23-3 lead at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. However, Texas rallied behind Manning with 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, completing its largest comeback since 2007 and giving the quarterback a signature victory.
Despite the historic rally, PFN analyst Ian Cummings saw plenty of concerns in Manning’s performance.
“No matter what happens from this point onward, Arch Manning’s 2nd try against Ohio State was another up-and-down outing,” Cummings tweeted.
“The processing and internal clock still run a tick slow at times, and the accuracy is an issue. He didn’t always get help, but not a clear-cut QB1 yet either.”
Meanwhile, PFN writer Brandon Astreicher said, “It wasn’t the prettiest, but Arch Manning got it done. Best win of his college career by a country mile.”
PFN’s Chief Publishing Officer Oliver Hodgkinson argued, “Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown were always more important gets from the transfer portal than Cam Coleman. The Longhorns don’t need to rely on Arch Manning to be a Superman this season. Balanced football wins big games.”
“Mechanics & reads still need fine-tuning, but Arch just may have that unteachable Manning clutch gene,” PFN analyst Alec Elijah remarked.
“Gotta give Arch Manning and Texas a lot of credit. They’ve shown a ton of fight in the fourth quarter. For all his inconsistencies, Arch stepped up when it mattered most. NFL teams will definitely take note of that,” PFN’s Jacob Infante chimed in.
“Ohio State lost that game. Arch Manning and Texas won that game. Both may be true. But what is factual: I’m dropping both in our PFN rankings tonight,” PFN’s Cam Mellor added.
Texas had just a 1.7% chance of winning against Ohio State at the 2:53 mark of the third quarter. However, Manning managed the game like a veteran.
Even as the offense began to fall apart around him, Manning took what was available and kept Texas alive until the fourth quarter.
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Texas’s receivers consistently found openings, and Manning delivered the ball to them. According to ESPN’s tracking data, Texas receivers were open on 22 of Manning’s 23 second-half throws.
Manning completed 16 of 22 passes for 136 yards and a touchdown on those throws.
The young quarterback finished 23-of-37 passing for 196 yards and a touchdown, with his two biggest throws coming on fourth down.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.