“Arch Manning hasn’t done a thing yet.”
That was Urban Meyer’s blunt assessment of college football’s most-talked-about quarterback during a recent appearance on “The Joel Klatt Show.” While the Texas redshirt sophomore has only appeared in 12 games with two starts in his collegiate career, his last name and recruiting pedigree continue to generate massive expectations — including being the favorite to win the Heisman in 2025 and to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
But Meyer wants to see Manning play at an elite level before falling for “Arch Mania.” In fact, the former Ohio State head coach believes Manning should be managed conservatively by Texas coach Steve Sarkisian in Saturday’s game against No. 3 Ohio State (noon ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app).
“I’m hearing the word Heisman. I’m hearing the words national champion and first pick overall,” Meyer said. “I went back and watched [him] just lately. He’s a great participant. He is a very good participant. However get a few first downs.”
With Manning now entrenched as Texas’ beginning quarterback, the Longhorns enter the season because the betting favourite to win the nationwide championship. Nevertheless, Meyer pointed to their “good protection” as a purpose to maintain issues easy for Manning in Saturday’s sport.
“I might be shocked if you happen to noticed one thing wild with these two groups early within the sport,” Meyer stated. “I might be very restrictive so far as throwing that ball between the hash marks. Your coronary heart begins [beating fast]. It’s like that time guard that will get all excited. You recognize what occurs? The ball is bouncing off the again of the rim. Why? As a result of he’s excited.”
As Meyer alluded to there, he would additionally ask Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin to play a conservative model if he had been nonetheless the Buckeyes’ head coach. With Sayin making his first profession begin on Saturday, Meyer stated that the sophomore quarterback is his largest concern for the Buckeyes.
“Julian Sayin goes to be the largest query mark,” Meyer stated. “Offensive line, they misplaced 4 starters, however I’m listening to that is the perfect depth they’ve had they usually really feel actually good concerning the O-line. The tight finish, [Max Klare], the switch from Purdue, is a superb participant. Very athletic, which you noticed. Then, Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss on the different receiver spots to enhance Jeremiah [Smith].
“So, the long-winded reply is: I do not assume there’s a lot of a drop-off early within the yr. I do not see him scoring a ton of factors early. I see them hanging in there and taking part in, particularly on this one [against Texas]. … I see this being type of a low-scoring sport, profitable with protection, till that offense will get cooking.”
Like Manning, Sayin was additionally a highly-rated recruit. He was the third-rated quarterback within the Class of 2024 (through 247Sports), initially committing to Alabama earlier than transferring to Ohio State after Nick Saban’s retirement.
Sayin edged out redshirt sophomore Lincoln Kienholz to be named the beginning quarterback, with Ryan Day not formally naming a starter till this previous week.
With Sayin and Kienholz entrenched within the quarterback battle all through spring and fall camp, Joel Klatt stated that he heard from individuals across the Ohio State program that it reminded them of the quarterback battle between Dwayne Haskins and Joe Burrow in 2018.
“They’re saying that that is related, the place it is Julian’s capability to throw the soccer that simply brings the ceiling a lot larger, particularly with the weapons on the surface, like Smith and Tate,” Klatt stated.” However Kienholz made it powerful simply due to his grittiness, his athleticism — possibly not in direct comparability to the model of Burrow — however this concept that there is this gritty competitor there that simply made it powerful on them to call a starter.”
Julian Sayin (proper) beat out Lincoln Kienholz (left) for Ohio State’s beginning quarterback job. (Picture by Icon Sportswire)
Despite the fact that Ohio State is coping with inexperience at quarterback and has to switch 14 gamers who went to the NFL from its nationwide championship-winning group, the Buckeyes arguably have essentially the most proficient roster within the nation. Smith and security Caleb Downs are broadly seen as the perfect gamers on their respective sides of the ball, whereas Ohio State ranks third in 247Sports’ group expertise composite score.
“I hate to say it like this, since you by no means need your quarterback to play like this, however he cannot screw it up,” Meyer stated of Sayin. “They received glorious coaches. Ryan’s an knowledgeable quarterbacks coach. You give him so many simple throws. You don’t have to win this sport, Julian. You would not have to try this. You may have sufficient cats round you.
“You’re going to see a bunch of screens, I might think about, to Jeremiah and the crew. You are going to see a powerful run sport. You are going to see simple throws. I might at all times inform these younger quarterbacks, give us two first downs and your job is completed. That is all you bought to do.”
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