Training camp hasn’t even opened yet, but we already know what one of the dominant sports media storylines of the 2025 college football season will be. That would be Paul Finebaum’s fascination with Arch Manning, who the ESPN personality and longtime SEC expert has already proclaimed the sport’s greatest quarterback since Tim Tebow.
But while there’s undoubtedly plenty of hype surrounding the Texas quarterback entering his third season in Austin, Jordan Rodgers says to pump the breaks. In fact, Aaron’s brother only ranks Peyton and Eli’s nephew as his fifth-best signal-caller in the SEC entering 2025, a far cry from the generational praise that his ESPN colleague has already placed on the former 5-star prospect.
“You all have been drinking Paul Finebaum’s Kool-Aid for way too long,” Rodgers said from SEC Media Days during Monday morning’s episode of Get Up. “I have him as the fifth — let me repeat that — fifth-best quarterback in the SEC. The hype train is out of control.”
@getupespn #archmanning #texas #qb #sec #quarterback ♬ original sound – Get Up
Rodgers proceeded to point out the most obvious flaw in Finebaum’s stance, that Arch Manning has yet to see any significant action against real competition through the first two years of his college career while sitting behind former Texas starter Quinn Ewers. Although he was impressive in limited playing time last season, the bulk of his action came against UTSA, Louisiana-Monroe and a Mississippi State team that finished the year 2-10; a far cry from the rigors typically associated with a standard SEC season.
“Look, I love Arch,” Rodgers insisted. “I think he has a very high floor. But I don’t think he’s an elite talent when it comes to his arm, his arm ability, his ability to manipulate the pocket, to make guys miss, to change his arm angle. I think he’s a really good quarterback. But the hype train is out of control.”
Even as recently as last week, Finebaum has further leaned into the bit, admitting that he’s “as married to Arch Manning as an old geezer like me can be to a young, great college quarterback” before guaranteeing a Longhorns victory over reigning national champion Ohio State in Week 1. Clearly, the host of The Paul Finebaum Show has carved out a lane as sports media’s No. 1 Arch Manning supporter. And it now appears that Rodgers is ready to fill the void of a dissenting viewpoint.
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.