Paul Finebaum responds to Arch Manning’s ‘red dot’ remark: “We’ve never seen anything quite like him”
As the Texas Longhorns head into the 2025 season as the AP Preseason No. 1 team, all eyes are on quarterback Arch Manning — arguably the most highly anticipated player in college football. Acknowledging the spotlight on Texas, Manning recently flipped the narrative with a comment that quickly made waves.
“I think that’s all of us at Texas,” Manning said. “We kind of try to shift the narrative. We’re going after everyone else. The target’s not on our back — we’ve got a red dot on everyone else.”
The statement caught the attention of ESPN, where Paul Finebaum shared his thoughts during an appearance on Get Up ahead of Week 1. According to Finebaum, Manning is in a category of his own.
“I don’t think we’ve really seen anything like this,” Finebaum said. “You can look back at Johnny Manziel after he won the Heisman as a freshman — but that was more about controversy. Tim Tebow had already made a name for himself as a backup on a national title team. But with Arch Manning, it’s something different. When you hear him speak, he sounds incredibly composed — and don’t forget, both of his uncles are in the media business.”
The buzz around Manning dates back years, fueled by his family legacy as part of the Manning quarterback dynasty. He was a dominant high school player, ultimately becoming a five-star recruit and the No. 1 quarterback in the 2023 class.
Since arriving at Texas, Manning has mostly played a backup role, stepping in briefly last season behind Quinn Ewers. But now, entering his third year, he’s officially the starter — and ready to lead the Longhorns on college football’s biggest stages.
In limited action last season, Manning showed flashes of his talent, completing nearly 68% of his passes for 939 yards, with nine touchdowns and two interceptions. He also contributed on the ground with 108 rushing yards and two additional scores.
Manning’s first test as the full-time starter will be massive — Texas travels to Columbus to face Ohio State in one of the most highly anticipated non-conference matchups of the season. With the Buckeyes fresh off a national championship, Manning will immediately be thrust into the spotlight — exactly where he seems ready to be.
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