AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — After two years of waiting in the wings, Arch Manning is finally leading No. 1 Texas against No. 3 Ohio State in a season-opening matchup that will determine which national title contender emerges.
Manning, the highly touted quarterback from Isadore Newman High School, has been the focus of college football fans for years. With a strong arm, fast feet, and big body, he was one of the most coveted recruits when he signed with Texas out of high school. After two seasons as backup to Quinn Ewers, Manning is now taking over as the undisputed leader of a team chasing a national title.
“I’m excited,” Manning said. “This is what I’ve been waiting for. I spent two years not playing, so might as well go have fun, right?”
Manning comes from a football family legacy, with uncles Peyton and Eli winning four Super Bowls. However, he has managed to avoid the pressures of living up to his family’s reputation while maintaining an “aw-shucks” attitude and soft smile.
Despite his massive social media following, Manning remains grounded, even posting that he has a private Instagram account where he clicks “not interested” when seeing stories about himself.
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian praises Manning for his humility and normalcy, saying it’s what sets him apart. The quarterback has also leveraged his fame to cash in with endorsement deals, including partnerships with Red Bull, Uber, Vuori, and Warby Parker.
Manning is not intimidated by the pressure of playing against Ohio State, led by a new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. “I’ve started two games and finished the season with 939 yards passing and nine touchdowns,” he said.
The matchup between Texas and Ohio State sets up a perfect storm of national title contenders and Heisman hopefuls. With Manning under center, Texas is poised to prove itself as a formidable opponent.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/texas-arch-manning-ohio-state-798695ef3ef467e0ec09e1240e365417