"I don't blame him": CFB analyst backs Arch Manning for calling the media "stupid"

Modified Apr 15, 2025 18:49 GMT

Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic - Ohio State v Texas - Source: Getty

Arch Manning is among the most popular players in America right now. Even after just starting for two games in the 2024 college football season, he is already winning the odds to win the 2025 Heisman Trophy award.

The Texas Longhorns' starting quarterback's hype is getting compared to legends like Tim Tebow; however, the popularity also has a major negative side effect.

Talking about his relationship with Quinn Ewers, who Arch sat behind for two years, the Longhorns star shared that they spent some time together at his wedding and also emphasized that despite the "stupid media stuff," Ewers was always good to him.

Doubling down on his "stupid" remark, he said "for sure" when a reporter asked whether he really meant it, followed by a round of laughter throughout the room.

Discussing the response, analyst Brad Kellner shared that he doesn't blame Manning for saying that.

"I don't blame him," Kellner said. "Imagine what that's like, what 19-year-old kid trying to go through college and just not being able to go anywhere or do anything without being stopped again, the most popular and well-known college athlete there is in America right now, and he's only started two games in his college career. (6:00)

"I'm sure the media stuff gets tiring, and I'm sure Quinn Ewers got tired of it the last couple of years; the backup quarterback is always the most popular kid on campus when the backup quarterback's name is Manning; that makes him even more popular."

Steve Sarkisian sends a strong warning to Arch Manning ahead of the 2025 CFB season

While the hype around Arch Manning is exciting, it also comes with a lot more vulnerability for criticism.

During an interview after the Longhorns' spring practice, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian sent a warning to Manning.

“The boos," Sarkisian said jokingly about his conversations with Manning. "Because the boos are going to come here pretty soon, too. I love our fans - they love the backup quarterback, but they hate interceptions. So those are coming.”

Arch Manning and the Longhorns will kick off the 2025 season against the defending champs, Ohio State, on 30th August.

About the author

Prasen is an NFL/College Sports analyst at Sportskeeda. A B.Tech/Civil Engineering graduate, he has two years of experience writing content.

For Prasen, providing historical angles relevant to the story is important, as it can give the reader useful information and help them relate it to the present. He thinks this keeps the content unique rather than just a bland reporting of facts. Prasen believes in fact-checking and researching relevant information as per the headline and context. He hates clickbait or misleading the reader.

A fan of the Colorado Buffaloes since Deion Sanders took over as coach, Prasen expects Coach Prime to make the Buffs a national championship contender. Nick Saban is his favorite all-time coach, while Baker Mayfield and Caitlin Clark are his favorite players. Prasen considers Vince Young coming up clutch for the Texas Longhorns in the dying seconds of the 2017 national championship game against the USC Trojans as the most iconic moment of all time.

Per Prasen, College Sports is competitive and garners attention but it is just the beginning, where a student-athlete can show their skills and potential to make it to the big leagues. When he is not researching and writing, Prasen’s hobbies include pursuing higher studies and playing sports.

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Edited by Krutik Jain