Paul Finebaum, Cole Cubelic swat away comparisons to Arch Manning media frenzy: 'Joe Burrow's not an example'

Texas quarterback Arch Manning was like a human magnet at the 2025 SEC Kickoff on Tuesday. Everywhere he went, reporters swarmed toward him as if he had a gravitational pull. After Manning met with the press, Paul Finebaum and Cole Cubelic discussed Manning’s popularity.

“People want to grab onto other players. Joe Burrow‘s not an example. Joe Burrow wasn’t anybody, really, when he came here in 2019,” Finebaum said. “Other players have matriculated, even Jayden Daniels. There is no really modern day comparison, I don’t think, and I’ve seen a few of these. People in New York, people in LA, they know Arch, they don’t know very much else. [Johnny] Manziel might have been bigger in the sense that he came here after getting kicked out of the Manning camp.

“You remember it, there was hardly anything quite like it. I mean, Arch, everybody’s having fun with. Manziel nobody knew whether he was going to even be eligible with all the controversy swirling around him. Manziel actually handled it fairly well.”

There’s one stark difference between the attention Manziel receiving and Manning is currently experiencing: Manziel was a proven star on the field. In fact, Manziel had won the Heisman Trophy the season before he infamously left the Manning Passing Academy early.

In contrast, Manning has made just two collegiate starts. In fairness, in those two starts, he completed 41-of-his-60 pass attempts for 583 yards and four touchdowns while only throwing two interceptions. He also recorded 29 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Nonetheless, his collegiate résumé thus far is, in reality, lackluster. Alas, reporters and fans alike can’t get enough of Arch Manning — Eli and Peyton Manning‘s nephew and subsequently, football’s prince. Manning is simply trying to take the unprecedented attention in stride.

“I’m not sure how they get these opinions, I’ve only played what, two games,” Manning said. “It’s nice of them to say, but it doesn’t mean anything. Talk is cheap, I gotta go prove it.”

“… I’m not really in the business of — this is gonna sound mean — caring what other people think,” Manning added later in the day. “I’m grateful you think that. But I’ve only played 2 games. I have a lot to prove.”

It won’t be long before Arch Manning has a chance to prove his supporters right. On Aug. 30, Texas and Ohio State will square off at noon ET. The game will air live on FOX.