“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] not too long ago. He’s a superb 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. Nonetheless, Meyer pointed to their “good protection” as a purpose to maintain issues easy for Manning in Saturday’s recreation.
“I might be shocked when you noticed one thing wild with these two groups early within the recreation,” Meyer mentioned. “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 realize 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 mentioned that the sophomore quarterback is his greatest concern for the Buckeyes.
“Julian Sayin goes to be the largest query mark,” Meyer mentioned. “Offensive line, they misplaced 4 starters, however I’m listening to that is one of the best 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 wonderful participant. Very athletic, which you noticed. Then, Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss on the different receiver spots to enrich Jeremiah [Smith].
“So, the long-winded reply is: I do not suppose 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 enjoying, particularly on this one [against Texas]. … I see this being form of a low-scoring recreation, successful 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 mentioned 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 means to throw the soccer that simply brings the ceiling a lot greater, particularly with the weapons on the surface, like Smith and Tate,” Klatt mentioned.” However Kienholz made it robust simply due to his grittiness, his athleticism — perhaps not in direct comparability to the model of Burrow — however this concept that there is this gritty competitor there that simply made it robust 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)
Regardless 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 workforce, the Buckeyes arguably have essentially the most proficient roster within the nation. Smith and security Caleb Downs are extensively seen as one of the best gamers on their respective sides of the ball, whereas Ohio State ranks third in 247Sports’ workforce expertise composite ranking.
“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 mentioned of Sayin. “They bought glorious coaches. Ryan’s an skilled quarterbacks coach. You give him so many straightforward throws. You don’t must win this recreation, Julian. You don’t have to try this. You could have sufficient cats round you.
“You’re going to see a bunch of screens, I’d think about, to Jeremiah and the crew. You are going to see a robust run recreation. You are going to see straightforward throws. I’d all the time 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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