‘I Was Nervous’ — Eli Manning Makes Feelings Clear on Arch Manning’s ‘Weird Start’ in Texas’ Thrilling Win vs. Ohio State

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In modern college football, the pressure on quarterbacks seems to grow exponentially each year. Texas quarterback Arch Manning is no exception. As a result of increased media exposure and the lure of NIL money becoming a dominant part of the process, quarterbacks shoulder the burden of carrying an entire program.

The comeback victory over Ohio State caught national attention when many turned the channel after the Buckeyes stormed out to a big lead.

With a famous surname and playing the position that made his family famous, Manning has always seemed to be under the microscope. Now, one of the Longhorn quarterbacks checks in with his viewpoint on a pivotal moment.

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Even if the Longhorns quarterback did not have his last name, the pressure of playing for a marquee program would mount. With 8:09 remaining in the third quarter, Ohio State kicker Connor Hawkins connected on a 48-yard field goal to make the score 23-3.

From there, Texas ended the game on a 21-0 run. The older Manning, who won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants, sat down with Colin Cowherd to discuss his take on the game.

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“I was nervous. I was quiet that first half. It was such a weird start of the game. He stayed patient even early in that second half. They weren’t giving him anything… He stayed patient and waited until they got the right calls, got guys open, and then had three great drives to go win that thing.”

Texas scored three touchdowns in the fourth. The first one saw Manning find wideout Ryan Wingo from three yards out to cut the lead to 23-10 after the extra point. The touchdown, combined with the defense shutting down Ohio State, gave Texas the confidence to chip away.

With 1:23 left in the game, Manning connected with wideout Emmett Mosley V on a 19-yard pass, setting Texas up with first-and-goal from the 1-yard line. The 19-yard completion put Texas at the Ohio State 1-yard line. Three plays later, Smothers scored the game-winning touchdown with 25 seconds remaining.

With a large roster, many expect to be in the College Football Playoff. Despite playing in the SEC, where each week could hold a trap game, the standard stays the same. While statistically, Manning holds the No. 30 spot in the PFN’s College QB Impact rankings, which are defined as:

“College QB Impact (QBi) blends passing and rushing efficiency, production (yards, TDs, avoiding turnovers), situational play (close-game snaps, third/fourth-down conversion, designed rushing) and strength of schedule into a single-number grade.”

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Yet, the magnitude of the win for a quarterback, routinely criticized for lacking a signature moment, could go a long way to setting the tone for a successful season.

After a presumed win against UTSA, Texas goes on the road to face Tennessee before the Red River Rivalry game against Oklahoma on October 10. How he carries the momentum forward remains unclear.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.

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