Ready or not, Arch Manning is set to become college football’s next prominent figure. As the nephew of Peyton and Eli, he enters his junior season as the expected starter for Steve Sarkisian’s Texas program. Although he could have left Austin after being passed over twice for Quinn Ewers, Manning opted to stay, despite Ewers’ inconsistencies. Now, with a chance to influence both the sport and its narrative, the conversation around Manning is heating up.
Brace yourself for the impending hysteria surrounding him. Though Manning hasn’t yet faced full-on overhype, it’s only a matter of time. History shows us that a select group of athletes seem destined to be etched into the Mount Rushmore of overhyped figures. Tim Tebow currently reigns supreme on that mountain, largely due to ESPN’s relentless coverage.
Unless you witnessed it firsthand, it’s hard to comprehend the extent of ESPN’s fixation on Tebow, which included live-tweeting press conferences, grand birthday bashes, and even a cappella tributes. Will Arch Manning experience a similar media frenzy? ESPN’s Marty Smith certainly believes so. He stated, “Just know this, brother, it’s going to be Tim Tebow-level hysteria this fall when we go to Austin, Texas, when he is behind center full time for the first time. It’s going to be like it was with Tebow at Florida — everywhere they go, they’re going to be rockstars. That’s what I anticipate, and I think that’s what we’re gonna see.”
“It’s gonna be Tim Tebow-level hysteria this fall.”@MartySmithESPN tells @finebaum that Arch Manning is college football’s next superstar 🤘 pic.twitter.com/SLU9vVtZUK
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) January 30, 2025
If Manning lives up to his illustrious surname, he might experience a media spectacle few athletes ever face—one reminiscent of the Tebow-era circus. Smith, a seasoned voice in ESPN and college football, asserts that the frenzy is on the horizon, which speaks volumes about what to expect.
