All offseason, we were sold a narrative by some entities from the college football universe that Texas QB Arch Manning was the second coming of Florida Gator legend Tim Tebow. Even this morning, Paul Finebaum was anointing Manning as the best player the sport has seen in the past 20 years.
But then Manning took the field against Ohio State, and quickly the hype train turned into the biggest flop since Crystal Pepsi.
Arch Manning is not Tim Tebow
Finebaum went on SEC Nation this morning and continued a trope he has continued all offseason:
"I've said it and I'll say it again: He's the best player we've seen from every aspect since Tim Tebow," Finebaum said, pointing at the college football legend. "He's not proven it yet, but in terms of magic and majesty, and buzz, that's where we are. People are gonna be watching this game today who would never normally watch a college football game."
The Manning and Tebow comparisons were dumb because it ignored the fact that Tebow was an instant impact player with specific packages drawn up for him his freshman year, followed by a Heisman Trophy his sophomore year.
Two years into his college career, Arch Manning was stuck behind Quinn Ewers.
Beyond the accuracy struggles and the lack of anything deep, one play summed up why Manning isn't the second coming of Tebow.
In the second half, Texas got down to the one-yard line and went for it on 4th and goal. They attempted a TEMU version of a Tush Push and were stopped with relatively minimal effort from Ohio State.
Tim Tebow would have bulldozed a guy and made him regret ever playing football.
Yes, Manning was playing against the defending national champions on the road. But for someone, NFL teams are going to potentially tank for (March for Arch does have a nice ring to it), he didn't even have the highest QB Rating on the field in Columbus.
This is what you asked for; heavy is the crown.