Should Texas national **** le-or-bust talk be directed more at Arch Manning or Steve Sarkisian? originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Is it national championship-or-bust for Texas? If so, who is more responsible to make it happen?
ESPN's "First Take" tossed this soon-to-be season-long narrative around at SEC Media Days on Thursday with Paul Finebaum and Stephen A. Smith. A hyped-up Texas team in July is nothing new. The Longhorns have a top-five ranking, a roster full of NFL Draft-ready talent and Arch Manning is plastered across the Sporting News College Football 2026 Preview magazine.
So naturally, this question became whether it's a national championship-or-bust year for Manning in 2026.
"Absolutely, because this is one of those heralded players in college football history," Finebaum said. "We know what happened last year, but what is going to happen this year? If he finishes his career with any sort of **** le or any sort of playoff, there is no other way to characterize it. You hate to do it — because of all of the good things about him and his family, but that's just the reality of the situation."
Then something curious happened, and it wasn't the part where Smith pushed back with the belief Manning will go on to a productive NFL career.
#bust #year #finebaum #college
Is it national championship-or-bust for Texas? If so, who is more responsible to make it happen?
ESPN's "First Take" tossed this soon-to-be season-long narrative around at SEC Media Days on Thursday with Paul Finebaum and Stephen A. Smith. A hyped-up Texas team in July is nothing new. The Longhorns have a top-five ranking, a roster full of NFL Draft-ready talent and Arch Manning is plastered across the Sporting News College Football 2026 Preview magazine.
So naturally, this question became whether it's a national championship-or-bust year for Manning in 2026.
"Absolutely, because this is one of those heralded players in college football history," Finebaum said. "We know what happened last year, but what is going to happen this year? If he finishes his career with any sort of **** le or any sort of playoff, there is no other way to characterize it. You hate to do it — because of all of the good things about him and his family, but that's just the reality of the situation."
Then something curious happened, and it wasn't the part where Smith pushed back with the belief Manning will go on to a productive NFL career.
#bust #year #finebaum #college
6 days ago
