Paul Finebaum is backing off the Arch Manning hype - at least compared with where he was a year ago.
That’s a notable shift after Finebaum previously went all in on Manning, even drawing a comparison to former Florida quarterback and 2007 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow in terms of the kind of impact he could eventually have on the sport. That take followed him all through the 2025 season, especially as Manning’s first year as Texas’ starter fell short of the preseason buzz.
The reality on the field was more measured. Texas went 10-3, and Manning’s play was good enough to give the Longhorns a solid base for a first-year SEC starter. But the early losses to Ohio State and Florida, along with uneven showings in wins over Oklahoma and Kentucky, shut down any real talk of an immediate Heisman push.
Now, Finebaum says the conversation around Manning has cooled some, even if the attention around him remains intense.
"A lot less hyperbole around Arch Manning this year, but he's still one of the most sought-after people to talk to at SEC Media Days," Finebaum posted on X.
Manning isn’t the only quarterback drawing early attention in the Heisman and NFL draft chatter. Oregon’s Dante Moore is being discussed in a similar lane as a player with major upside after helping the Ducks reach the College Football Playoff semifinal. Moore is aiming to become Oregon’s first Heisman winner since Marcus Mariota in 2014.
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is also getting a look in the early Heisman conversation. His path has drawn comparisons to Diego Pavia, since both players arrived in the SEC from outside Division I and both won eligibility cases against the NCAA to keep their college careers going.
Ohio State, meanwhile, has two names in the mix on offense. Quarterback Julian Sayin was one of the four Heisman Trophy candidates in 2025, and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is already viewed as one of the country’s top non-quarterback threats.
Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr is another early name to watch. As a freshman, he threw for 2,741 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions, which is enough to put him on the radar heading into the next Heisman discussion.
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