It isn’t an everyday thing to watch a backup take the game to the next level and play even better than the starter. But it looks like Arch Manning is an exception. After all, football runs in his blood, as he is the nephew of NFL stars Peyton Manning and Eli Manning. Given Arch Manning’s top-notch performance in the Texas vs. UTSA game, he is getting high odds of winning the Heisman Trophy and competing with Quinn Ewers for the QB1 spot at the Longhorns. The perennially controversial Paul Finebaum has something to say about the whole situation.

Paul Finebaum joined ESPN’s Mike Greenberg on the ‘Get Up’ show. Finebaum is not new to going away from the popular opinion. This time was also the same. Pointing at the AP polls, the show discussed Arch Manning’s +1600 odds to win the Heisman compared to Quinn Ewers’ +1800 odds.

While Greenberg suggested Arch Manning has an upper hand to win the title, Paul Finbaum replied, “Arch Manning looked unbelievable. I realize it was a scrub game, but he has the DNA. He has the pedigree. And I think Arch Manning is capable of leading this team as Quinn Ewers is. Well, other than maybe Peyton and Eli doing the calculating there, I don’t know how you could, but ultimately, that is not realistic.” Paul said lightly that only if Peyton and Eli, who are related to Arch Manning, were doing the business, would he win the title. Ultimately, it all falls down to one person- Quinn Ewers. The situation is likely to return to the status quo once Ewers returns.

Paul talked about Quinn Ewers’ potential to bounce back after recovering. “Quinn Ewers will be back. He will get to start whenever he is and I don’t think Heisman voters are going to just simply go to Arch Manning because of the name. I like him very much. I’ve already said that, but it’s going to take a lot more, so right now, I still think it’s Quinn Ewers’ team unless he gets banged up or unless he struggles.” If Arch Manning winning the title is not realistic, Finebaum acknowledges that Ewers’ chances are certainly better. Besides that, let’s uncover details from their last game.

Who will play in the next game? Arch Manning or Quinn Ewers?

Texas Longhorns fans are going gaga over Manning’s electric play in their last game. To briefly repeat last week’s events, note that Quinn Ewers left the field after facing a stomach injury, after which Arch Manning took charge of the team. Right after hitting the field, he amazed everyone with a 67-yard rushing touchdown, which became the highlight of the entire game.

Ewers faced a non-contact oblique strain in the second quarter of the game against UTSA, and right now, he’s recovering from it. Head coach Steve Sarkisian gave an update that they will submit an injury report on Wednesday as the SEC play starts, and Ewers will be listed as “questionable.” He further added that they will be monitoring him “day-to-day,” but his return to Saturday’s game against Louisiana remains questionable.

Moreover, if you are interested in learning more about the NIL landscape, do not miss this ES Think Tank interview with Doug Sanders.