“Arch Manning hasn’t completed a factor but.”
That was City Meyer’s blunt evaluation of faculty soccer’s most-talked-about quarterback throughout a latest look on “The Joel Klatt Present.” Whereas the Texas redshirt sophomore has solely appeared in 12 video games with two begins in his collegiate profession, his final title and recruiting pedigree proceed to generate large expectations — together with being the favourite to win the Heisman in 2025 and to be the No. 1 total decide within the 2026 NFL Draft.
However Meyer desires to see Manning play at an elite stage earlier than falling for “Arch Mania.” The truth is, the previous Ohio State head coach believes Manning needs to be managed conservatively by Texas coach Steve Sarkisian in Saturday’s recreation in opposition to No. 3 Ohio State (midday ET on FOX and the FOX Sports activities app).
“I’m listening to the phrase Heisman. I’m listening to the phrases nationwide champion and first decide total,” Meyer mentioned. “I went again and watched [him] not too long ago. He’s participant. He is a extremely good participant. However get a few first downs.”
With Manning now entrenched as Texas’ beginning quarterback, the Longhorns enter the season because the betting favourite to win the nationwide championship. Nonetheless, Meyer pointed to their “good protection” as a purpose to maintain issues easy for Manning in Saturday’s recreation.
“I would be shocked in the event you noticed one thing wild with these two groups early within the recreation,” Meyer mentioned. “I would be very restrictive so far as throwing that ball between the hash marks. Your coronary heart begins [beating fast]. It’s like that time guard that will get all excited. You already know what occurs? The ball is bouncing off the again of the rim. Why? As a result of he’s excited.”
As Meyer alluded to there, he would additionally ask Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin to play a conservative model if he had been nonetheless the Buckeyes’ head coach. With Sayin making his first profession begin on Saturday, Meyer mentioned that the sophomore quarterback is his largest concern for the Buckeyes.
“Julian Sayin goes to be the largest query mark,” Meyer mentioned. “Offensive line, they misplaced 4 starters, however I’m listening to that is the very best depth they’ve had and so they really feel actually good concerning the O-line. The tight finish, [Max Klare], the switch from Purdue, is a superb participant. Very athletic, which you noticed. Then, Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss on the different receiver spots to enrich Jeremiah [Smith].
“So, the long-winded reply is: I do not assume there’s a lot of a drop-off early within the 12 months. I do not see him scoring a ton of factors early. I see them hanging in there and enjoying, particularly on this one [against Texas]. … I see this being sort of a low-scoring recreation, successful with protection, till that offense will get cooking.”
Like Manning, Sayin was additionally a highly-rated recruit. He was the third-rated quarterback within the Class of 2024 (through 247Sports), initially committing to Alabama earlier than transferring to Ohio State after Nick Saban’s retirement.
Sayin edged out redshirt sophomore Lincoln Kienholz to be named the beginning quarterback, with Ryan Day not formally naming a starter till this previous week.
With Sayin and Kienholz entrenched within the quarterback battle all through spring and fall camp, Joel Klatt mentioned that he heard from individuals across the Ohio State program that it reminded them of the quarterback battle between Dwayne Haskins and Joe Burrow in 2018.
“They’re saying that that is comparable, the place it is Julian’s potential to throw the soccer that simply brings the ceiling a lot greater, particularly with the weapons on the surface, like Smith and Tate,” Klatt mentioned.” However Kienholz made it powerful simply due to his grittiness, his athleticism — possibly not in direct comparability to the model of Burrow — however this concept that there is this gritty competitor there that simply made it powerful on them to call a starter.”
Julian Sayin (proper) beat out Lincoln Kienholz (left) for Ohio State’s beginning quarterback job. (Picture by Icon Sportswire)
Though Ohio State is coping with inexperience at quarterback and has to switch 14 gamers who went to the NFL from its nationwide championship-winning workforce, the Buckeyes arguably have probably the most gifted roster within the nation. Smith and security Caleb Downs are extensively seen as the very best gamers on their respective sides of the ball, whereas Ohio State ranks third in 247Sports’ workforce expertise composite ranking.
“I hate to say it like this, since you by no means need your quarterback to play like this, however he cannot screw it up,” Meyer mentioned of Sayin. “They bought glorious coaches. Ryan’s an skilled quarterbacks coach. You give him so many simple throws. You don’t must win this recreation, Julian. You shouldn’t have to do this. You have got sufficient cats round you.
“You’re going to see a bunch of screens, I’d think about, to Jeremiah and the crew. You are going to see a robust run recreation. You are going to see simple throws. I’d all the time inform these younger quarterbacks, give us two first downs and your job is achieved. That is all you bought to do.”
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