Jordan Rodgers on Arch Manning preseason discussions, ranking: 'The hype train is out of control'

Jordan Rodgers was asked a simple question on Monday morning by ESPN’s Peter Schrager. Is Arch Manning the best quarterback in the SEC? The answer was filled with some conviction, having some passion in his voice.

“Y’all have been drinking Paul Finebaum’s Kool-Aid for way too long,” Rodgers said on Get Up. “I have him as the fifth-best quarterback in the SEC. The hype train is out of control.”

Rodgers explained his biggest concerns with Manning, mainly who the Texas quarterback faced in 2024, which started the “hype train.” He also questioned the arm talent, Manning’s pocket awareness, and the changing of the arm angle in order to make plays.

Which fits in quite well with somebody Rodgers has slated one spot ahead of Manning in his SEC quarterbacks rankings. And it’s not going to please a lot of people on the burnt orange side of the Red River.

“I have John Mateer one spot ahead of Arch,” Rodgers said on The Paul Finebaum Show. “I am really high — I always have a big swing and a miss on these rankings every year. This is the one that could make me look really smart of I could just look like an idiot. I’m okay with either.”

Music to the folks in Norman, who are pretty excited about their own quarterback. Mateer transferred into the program via Washington State alongside offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle — something Rodgers loves about the potential for Oklahoma.

He gave a full breakdown on why the love for Mateer is a little more than Manning. A pretty lofty comparison was even thrown in there to maybe get the Mateer hype train rolling on its own.

“When I flip on the film, I love this kid,” Rodgers said. “And ‘it factor’ gets thrown around really casually and too cavalierly at times. He’s got it, though. There’s something to the way he plays. Reminds me of Baker Mayfield. Not just because he’s putting on an Oklahoma jersey.

“But he’s a little shorter in stature but he’s got some juice and quickness to his game as a runner, which is really dangerous… He is able to manipulate his arm angle, throw around guys, accurate. I think he is really good.”

While we might presently be in talking season, soon enough, we will see Manning and Mateer go head-to-head on the field. Texas-Oklahoma is one of college football’s top rivalries and this year’s edition is scheduled for Oct. 11 from the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

Quite a quarterback duel appears to be on our hands, fighting for the Golden Hat. And Rodgers likely will find out if he is “really smart” on his July opinion on the two.