As Arch Manning enters his third year on campus at Texas, all eyes are on the young quarterback with one of the most famous last names in football history. Despite the excitement surrounding him, Manning has started just two games in his college career, securing victories against ULM and Mississippi State-not exactly powerhouse opponents.
With Texas being an early favorite to win the College Football Playoff in 2025, the expectation is that Manning will be as good as his predecessor, Quinn Ewers, in Steve Sarkisian‘s offense.
However, those close to the situation, including his father, Cooper Manning, are urging patience, warning against the dangers of excessive hype.
Manning calls for patience
During an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show, Cooper Manning spoke candidly about his son’s journey and the importance of facing adversity.
“I think having your children struggle with some things is good. Yeah, it’s frustrating not to play,” he said.
“Did he love it? No. Was it probably good for him in the long run? Yes. You don’t want your kiddos to come home and be unhappy, but at the same time, sometimes going through a little hardship and some bumps in the road are good.”
Manning also pointed out the unavoidable cycle of media hype, where players are elevated too soon, only to be torn down at the first sign of struggle.
“Arch is going to have plenty more of those,” he added. “These are the real ones, when you get beat this year and have bad games. I mean, you know how they do it in the media, they crown you way too early and then they jump on and kill ya.
“So he’s getting way too much attention and way too much credit and he’s going to struggle, and they’re going to say ‘He’s not as good, he’s overrated!’ It’s coming, everybody knows it.”