Paul Finebaum predicts Arch Manning, Texas will make College Football Playoff

Paul Finebaum may as well have been the conductor on the Arch Manning hype train leading into the 2025 regular season. Of course, that particular hype train jumped the tracks before ever leaving the station after preseason No. 1 Texas fell 14-7 to then-No. 3 Ohio State in the season opener Aug. 30.

Nearly a month later, and four weeks into the regular season, Finebaum is back in the cab of the Manning-Texas hype train and calling “all-aboard” after declaring the No. 10 Longhorns (3-1) will still make the College Football Playoffs this season, despite its rough start. Finebaum made this claim during a Tuesday afternoon appearance on ESPN‘s SportsCenter with co-host Matt Barrie.

“Everybody wants to write Arch Manning and Texas off, but they still just have one loss. I think they’re going to come back,” Finebaum said Tuesday afternoon on ESPN. “And, Matt, call me crazy, I know you have many times … but they are still going to make the College Football Playoff. I know they started the season at No. 1 in the country, but they’ve fallen dramatically since then.”

Since that season-opening loss in Columbus, Texas has won three straight, albeit not in the most impressive fashion outside of last Saturday’s 55-0 blowout of Sam Houston State. After its first bye of the regular season this weekend, the Longhorns travel to Florida for its SEC opener at 3:30 pm ET on Oct. 4.

From there, Texas will play bitter rival Oklahoma in the annual Red River Showdown on Oct. 11 before hitting the road again for SEC games at Kentucky and Mississippi State. Outside of the Red River Showdown, the Longhorns should be heavily favored in all three SEC road games through the end of October.

After that, though, three of Texas’ final four games are against ranked SEC teams, including at No. 5 Georgia (Nov. 15) and a home game vs. No. 9 Texas A&M (Nov. 28) to close out the regular season.

Suffice it to say, Finebaum has complete confidence Manning and the Longhorns will remain in the mix for both a shot at the SEC Championship and the College Football Playoff. And as long as those are still a possibility for Texas, Finebaum will continue to wear his hype-train conductor hat with pride.

Steve Sarkisian reacts to viral Arch Manning taunt after touchdown vs. Sam Houston

Arch Manning drew even more attention than usual on Saturday when he stared down a Sam Houston State defender after running in a touchdown. It was an unusual celebration from the typically mild-mannered Manning.

While Manning admitted his celebration may have been excessive, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian didn’t mind it. After the Longhorns’ 55-0 victory, Sarkisian weighed in on Manning’s passionate performance.

“There’s a lot more personality in there than sometimes everyone gets to see,” Sarkisian said. “I always feel like he’s a little bit at his best when that emotion kind of comes out some. I think there was a lot built up in there obviously from last week that he needed to get out. But, inevitably, I think the guys feed off of that from him, and it’s one of his strengths.

“He’s a very cerebral guy in his approach and in his preparation, but at his core I think when he plays a little looser, a little bit more free, that’s the best version of Arch. That’s when he’s really at his best. And it’s a fine line, because we want him to prepare, we want him to stay within the confines of the offense. But at the same token, when he’s cutting it loose and playing I sometimes I feel like that’s what he’s really at his best.”

— On3’s Grant Grubbs contributed to this report.