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Absurd Finebaum take disrespects Tim Tebow legacy with Arch Manning comparison

One QB has a statue, the other threw 12 passes after September
ByBenjamin Henderson|
Oct 5, 2024; College Station, Texas, USA; SEC Nation analyst Paul Finebaum looks on prior to the game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Missouri Tigers at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images.
Oct 5, 2024; College Station, Texas, USA; SEC Nation analyst Paul Finebaum looks on prior to the game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Missouri Tigers at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images. | Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Last week, former Florida Gator coach Steve Spurrier mused out loud why Texas QB Arch Manning was getting as much love and attention as he has, given that Manning has yet to actually accomplish anything in his college career.

And still, people like Paul Finebaum want to anoint Manning as the second coming of Tim Tebow while ignoring so many details that get in the way of that comparison.

Arch Manning gets compared to Tim Tebow

On Tuesday, Finebaum took to the ESPN airwaves to boldly state that:

"I believe also that Arch Manning is the best college football quarterback we have seen since Tim Tebow entered the scene in 2006."

That raised a few eyebrows or two and so as Finebaum made his media rounds on Wednesday, he followed up that quote by stating:

"The point is Tebow was such a great college player, and I think Arch is made of the same material, and I think that's why he will be all that. Now, of course, he hasn't done that yet, and did I say what I did yesterday? Of course I did, and I meant it, in the total context of (Arch's) career."

History Lesson

There is just one slight problem trying to anoint Manning as the second coming of Tebow:

Within two years of his college career, Tebow had won a national title and a Heisman Trophy.

Manning attempted 12 total passes after September last season and sat on the bench behind Quinn Ewers, who was drafted in the 7th round by the Miami Dolphins.

Tebow was an instant impact player in his freshman year, and Florida found ways to use him even with Chris Leak as the starter. Manning was often floated as a package guy, but Texas seldom opted to use him in that role.

And so even if Manning reaches his ceiling and wins the national title and the Heisman in 2025, he's not going to match Tebow. Part of Tebow's legacy was being a four-year star in college football. Manning, at best, will have two years.

And for someone who has been around college football for as long as he has, Finebaum knows that.

But this is July, and we are in peak "Talking Season."

Thankfully, Talking Season ends next month.

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