There’s no doubt all eyes were on Arch Manning’s debut with the Texas Longhorns, facing the tough challenge of going up against powerhouse Ohio State-the reigning NCAA champions. It was a very complicated game for the nephew of Eli and Peyton Manning, as Texas couldn’t put points on the board until the final quarter.
Ohio State took the 14-7 win over the Longhorns in a game dominated by defenses, and above all, the pressure was squarely on Arch Manning, who struggled heavily. The Longhorns quarterback completed 17 of 30 passes for 170 yards, throwing one touchdown pass, but he was also intercepted once.
Manning never found his rhythm in the Texas offense, and as expected, the criticism came quickly from analysts and especially across social media. The season is just beginning, but the pressure will only continue to grow for young Arch Manning, who must simply keep working and try to find a way to get things right.
The Browns should focus on Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders
Ever since the conclusion of the last Draft, rumors have been strong that the Cleveland Browns-after trading with the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round-had a plan to go all-in on Arch Manning in 2026. (The Jaguars used the second pick to select Travis Hunter.)
Yesterday, before the Texas vs. Ohio State matchup, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and GM Andrew Berry were spotted on the sideline for Arch Manning’s first career start. But after his rough outing, maybe it’s time to shift their attention toward Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.
Another sign that the Browns should focus on their current quarterbacks is that several other prospects projected to be first-round picks in 2026 also had shaky or modest debuts. Cade Klubnik of Clemson threw for 230 yards with one interception, while LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier had an underwhelming performance as well. So the Browns might be better off working with the talent already on their roster.
For now, Joe Flacco will be the Week 1 starter when the Browns face the Bengals, but the pressure will be heavy on the veteran entering his 18th season. If there’s any decline, the opportunity should immediately go to Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders.
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