Arch's father wants to protect his son from mounting pressure.
Arch Manning’s Father Had Three Words After Paul Finebaum’s Bold Prediction originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
In the lead-up to Texas’s season opener, Arch Manning's father, Cooper Manning, and Paul Finebaum have framed the conversation around Arch Manning in starkly different ways.
Finebaum, one of college football’s most influential voices, called the younger Manning “the most dynastic quarterback we have seen, perhaps, in a generation.”
The comment echoed his ongoing history of publicly elevating the quarterback’s profile since his high school days, whether it was Finebaum believing that Manning could be the next Tim Tebow, his choice to win the Heisman, or the ESPN analyst's "remarkable" handshake with Manning at SEC Media Days in July.
In contrast, Cooper responded with a three-word rebuttal to Finebaum's quote shared on the SEC Network's Instagram: “Slow your roll!”
For a family well-versed in managing football fame, the remark from Arch’s father was a reminder that preseason accolades mean little until they are backed up on the field.
Cooper, whose own promising football career ended before college due to spinal stenosis, has seen both his younger brothers, Peyton and Eli, handle championship expectations and understands the weight placed on Arch’s shoulders.
Texas Opens No. 1 Against Ohio State In High-Stakes Rematch
The college football world will quickly make its judgment on all the Manning hype very early this season.
Texas enters its Week 1 matchup against Ohio State ranked No. 1 in the AP preseason poll for the first time in program history.
Despite that ranking, sportsbooks list the Longhorns as 2.5-point underdogs to the Buckeyes, marking the first time in decades a preseason No. 1 has opened as an underdog. That betting line reflects the challenge ahead—Ohio State is the defending national champion and the team that ended Texas’s playoff run in last season’s College Football Playoff semifinal.
Manning now takes over as the full-time starter after limited action last year. Coach Steve Sarkisian has tailored the offense to maximize his quarterback's arm strength and quick processing, pairing him with a deep receiver corps and an offensive line anchored by multiple preseason All-SEC selections.
On defense, Texas brings back All-American linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., veteran safety Michael Taaffe and highly touted freshman edge rusher Colin Simmons. Their task will be slowing an Ohio State offense that will be without several of its top contributors from a year ago, due to numerous departures to the NFL draft.
The Buckeyes’ defense, which led the nation in points allowed last season, also does not have its defensive coordinator from last year, Jim Knowles, who will take over the same position at Penn State.
The Week 1 matchup in Columbus is more than a season opener. It is a measuring stick for Texas’s ability to turn offseason hype into sustained championship contention. For Manning, it is the first real opportunity to prove that Finebaum’s confidence is warranted and that his father’s words were not just a precaution, but motivation.
If Texas delivers an upset win, the path to a national championship will look far more attainable. If not, the conversation around the program and its young quarterback could shift quickly.
Related: Josh Pate Snubs Arch Manning for Rival SEC QB When Picking His Heisman Trophy Favorite
Related: Rece Davis Snubs Two Major College Football Programs In Preseason Top 25 Ballot
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports