![\"Paul](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01m4nyw67ccvmw9yb4n2.jpg\" "\\"Paul")
<\/p>\nPaul Finebaum, the ESPN analyst who once called Arch Manning the best player since Tim Tebow, now says the Texas quarterback isn\u2019t elite after two fourth-quarter interceptions sank the No. 1 Longhorns against Oklahoma.<\/p>\n
Finebaum reacted Sunday on The Matt Barrie Show after the 27-24 Red River loss. \u201cWe showed arrogance in believing that Arch Manning can do anything,\u201d Finebaum said. \u201cAnd he almost did, except he finally got in the way of himself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Paul Finebaum on Arch Manning\u2019s decisions<\/p>\n
Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) passes against the Oklahoma Sooners | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n
Finebaum said the loss confirmed doubts he\u2019d carried through Texas\u2019 first four games.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I was really troubled by how he had played up to this point. I came away going, \u2018I don\u2019t know what this guy\u2019s going to do,\u2019 because he is not the elite player that we all tried to make him out to be.\u201d<\/p>\n
He tied his harshest line to the Longhorns quarterback\u2019s choices with the ball, crediting the throw that set up Texas\u2019 tying score before turning to the turnovers.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe can be great in moments, as we saw near the end of the game when he threw that great play that set up the touchdown, but he can just be downright stupid in others.\u201d<\/p>\n
The criticism carries extra weight because Finebaum built much of the original hype. He made the Tebow comparison before the 2025 opener at Ohio State, then said on First Take<\/a> two weeks later that Manning was \u201cbarely playing like a pedestrian quarterback.\u201d Two weeks ago on the same Sunday show, Finebaum said of Manning<\/a>, \u201cHe\u2019s not the player that we all dreamed he was going to be.\u201d<\/p>\n How did Texas lose to Oklahoma? Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Peyton Bowen (22) returns an interception for a touchdown during the second half against the Texas Longhorns | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n Texas carried a seven-point lead into the fourth quarter at the Cotton Bowl, even after an offense that managed 41 yards and three punts<\/a> across its three third-quarter drives.<\/p>\n After Oklahoma tied it at 17, Manning sailed a deep throw that defensive back Peyton Bowen intercepted and returned 42 yards for a touchdown. It was the first pick-six of Manning\u2019s college career<\/a>.<\/p>\n The nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning answered with the sequence Finebaum praised. He hit Cam Coleman on a deep ball to spark a seven-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Bishop Jr.<\/p>\n With the game tied at 24, Courtland Guillory intercepted Manning at the Oklahoma 39 with 19 seconds left. Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer then found Isaiah Sategna III on back-to-back completions, and Tate Sandell hit a 47-yard field goal as time expired.<\/p>\n Manning finished 19 of 31 for 260 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.<\/p>\n Texas\u2019 playoff outlook after Red River Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian reacts during the first half against the Oklahoma Sooners | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n Finebaum declined to forecast the rest of the Longhorns\u2019 schedule but still expects them to recover.<\/p>\n \u201cAgain, it will be fascinating to see what Texas can do. Now, I\u2019m no longer going to play the schedule game because I get burned every time I do. But they have to navigate a lot, and I still think they will. And thanks to the end of the Ohio State game, they don\u2019t have a lot of breathing room, but they have some.\u201d<\/p>\n The Ohio State game he referenced came Sept. 12 in Austin, when Texas erased a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit and beat the top-ranked Buckeyes 24-23<\/a> on Hollywood Smothers\u2019 1-yard touchdown run with 25 seconds left. Manning completed 11 of his final 15 passes in that rally.<\/p>\n That win remains the top line on the resume of a team now 4-1 overall and 1-1 in SEC play. The loss also ends Texas\u2019 stay at No. 1<\/a> in the AP Top 25 after the Longhorns\u2019 first-place vote total rose following each of their two previous wins.<\/p>\n![\"Oklahoma](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01m4nyx8cfvvqavwhty0.jpg\" "\\"Oklahoma")
<\/p>\n![\"Texas](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01m4nyy1jf09rj6k2f6v.jpg\" "\\"Texas")
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