Paul Finebaum disses ‘downright stupid’ Arch Manning over Red River Rivalry failure

Arch Manning’s first loss of the 2026 college football season has ESPN’s Paul Finebaum completely changing his tune on the Texas star quarterback.

Manning and the Texas Longhorns suffered a brutal defeat against Oklahoma in Week 6’s Red River Rivalry. However, it was the SEC star’s late-game mistakes that has one of the most prominent CFB analysts questioning his abilities.

“We showed arrogance in believing that Arch Manning can do anything. And he almost did, except he finally got in the way of himself,” Finebaum said Sunday morning on “The Matt Barrie Show.”

Finebaum’s certainly changed his tune since August 2025 when he went on national television claiming Manning is the “best player” since Tim Tebow.

MORE: College football overreactions after Week 6: Texas from No. 1 to missing CFP?

Manning exposed by Oklahoma’s defense

Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) looks to throw during the NCAA football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas on Sept. 12, 2026. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

This season certainly doesn’t look like some of the campaigns Tebow and other college legends have strung together. Manning’s tossed 10 touchdowns to five interceptions in 2026 while throwing for just over 1,100 yards.

Eli and Peyton Manning’s nephew certainly looked shaky during the latter stages of Texas’ 27-24 defeat on Saturday. Meanwhile, it came down to two poor decisions that drastically affected the outcome of the game.

Finebaum didn’t hold back on the 22-year-old after calling some of his decisions “downright stupid.” That includes the pick-six Manning threw in the fourth quarter that sparked put the Sooners in front.

“And I was really troubled by how he had played up to this point,” Finebaum said while dissing Manning’s up-and-down performances. “I came away thinking, I don’t know what this guy’s going to do. Because he is not the elite player that we all tried to make him out to be. He can be great in moments, as we saw near the end of the game, as he threw that great play that set up the touchdown, but he can just be downright stupid in others.”

Manning’s showing likely ended his Heisman Trophy hopes as well considering how well other collegiate stars like Jeremiah Smith and Darian Mensah are playing.

MORE: College football Heisman Trophy watch after Week 6

Finebaum and others have praised Manning for years now, and many will likely come back when the star QB wins another big matchup. Texas is in the midst of a schedule gauntlet that includes upcoming games against Florida, Ole Miss and Mississippi State.

— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —