Texas football has faced some of the best players in the country this season.

Don’t believe it? Just try and place a friendly wager on the winner of this season’s Heisman Trophy, and you’ll find plenty of faces familiar to the Longhorns. Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed is currently ranked No. 5 on BetMGM’s list of likely winners, and he’ll become the fourth player currently ranked in the top six to face Texas this season Friday when the No. 3 Aggies visit Austin \for the regular-season finale against No. 16 Texas.

So, who would get a Heisman vote from Texas all-American safety Michael Taaffe, who’s faced Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin (No. 2 on Bet MGM’s odds list), Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (No. 4) and Georgia quarterback Gunnar Stockton (No. 6)?

The answer during Monday’s press conference inside Royal-Memorial Stadium drew chuckles from the gathered media, but Taaffe wasn’t kidding around.

“I bet his numbers are probably up there,” Taaffe said. “I think he’s the most hated-on person in all of college football, and he doesn’t even care. He just cares about winning, and he cares about his teammates. The things that he’s done for this team and the adversity that he’s gone through, I think if you look at the best player in college football, I think it’s Arch.”

Taaffe’s statistical assertion isn’t far off, especially since Manning began heating up midseason. Starting four games ago against Mississippi State, Manning has averaged 328.5 yards per game with 11 touchdowns and two interceptions on 65.1% passing. Despite a slow start to the season, he’s thrown for 2,763 yards and 23 touchdowns. Those numbers are sixth and fifth, respectively, among quarterbacks on ranked teams from a Power Four conference.

When told about Taaffe’s praise, Manning grinned and gave a slight shake of his head.

But did Manning feel like “the most hated-on player” in the nation — especially after an ill-timed article by The Athletic’s Will Leitch in mid-October asked whether the redshirt sophomore was college football’s “first flop”?

“No, I’m liked by my team,” Manning deadpanned, drawing more laughs.

But Manning also said that his ability to block out any outside criticism has helped his late-season surge.

 “I don’t pay attention all the other stuff,” he said. “Really, all I care about are my teammates, family and friends. Other than that, I’m not real interested.”

So, would Manning join Taaffe and vote for himself, if he had a Heisman vote?

“No, I was playing like garbage (early),” he said.