Arch Manning made Saturday night look a lot bigger than a regular early-season win, and Ohio State fans were left feeling it. Cleveland, though, may have watched the same performance and seen something else entirely.
Texas’ comeback against the Buckeyes was built in the fourth quarter, when the Longhorns got the ball three times and scored on all three possessions. Manning drove the whole thing, finishing those final three series 13-for-19 for 125 passing yards, 33 rushing yards and a touchdown. The last score came with less than a minute left and ended up as the game-winner.
That was the kind of finish that only adds to Manning’s already loud draft profile. If he decides to enter next year’s class, he’s expected to sit near the top of it alongside Darian Mensah, CJ Carr, Dante Moore and Trinidad Chambliss.
For the Browns, the bigger conversation is obvious: their quarterback answer probably isn’t already on the roster. And Manning’s name is the kind that naturally jumps to the front of the conversation.
At 6’4, 222 pounds, Manning has the frame, the arm and the running ability that teams chase at the position. In his first season as a starter, he put up 3,163 passing yards, 26 TDs and 7 INTs, then added about 400 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
Against Ohio State, he finished with 219 total yards, one touchdown and a pick that was 95% of a catch from Cam Coleman. He also came through on two huge fourth-down conversions in the second half, both on strong throws that kept Texas alive.
There’s also a Browns connection here. Todd Monken, now Cleveland’s head coach, had previously crossed paths with Arch and the Manning family when he was the offensive coordinator at Georgia and recruited Arch to the Bulldogs. Manning’s decision ultimately came down to Texas, Ole Miss and Georgia, and the Manning family reportedly loved what Monken brought as a play-caller, along with the meetings and installs.
Cleveland will have two first-round picks in the 2027 draft, and after Week 1, their own selection should be in a good spot. Even if it doesn’t land in the top three or top five, the extra first-rounder from Los Angeles could be used as trade ammunition.
The idea of Manning running the Browns’ offense is the kind of thing that will naturally get people talking, and his start to the year has only pushed the hype higher. Texas still has a demanding schedule ahead, with Tennessee, Ole Miss, LSU and Texas A&M all still on the slate.
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