Kirk Herbstreit makes prediction on Arch Manning’s debut as Texas’ starting quarterback: ‘The moment will not be too big’

The full debut of Arch Manning has been a long time coming in college football. ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit knows it was intentionally done that way, though, in leading up to that moment tomorrow when he takes the field for No. 1 Texas.

Herbstreit previewed Arch’s arrival in appearing on ‘Get Up’ on Friday ahead of week one’s kickoff of college football this weekend. He began by noting that this has all been part of the plan when it comes to the Mannings, Texas, and this quarterback to ensure he’d be as ready as he could be whenever he took over as the full-time starter for the Longhorns.

“First, before we roll to B-Roll, let me just say this on camera, that I think this was very intentional,” said Herbstreit. “That Arch Manning, and his dad, Cooper, and his mom and his entire family? They sent him to Austin knowing that Quinn Ewers was going to be there for a couple years, allow him to kind of be in the background as much as he could be to grow and mature as much as he could in the shadows. And they intentionally sent him to Sark, to Texas because Sark would understand that, and allowed him to now be in position to be in his third year and now we can see what he can do.”

“I think this was a plan all along. They wanted him to just – like, a lot of these five-star guys, like Bryce Underwood? Bang, they’re just thrown in. Arch has had a chance to simmer for the last couple years, grow, get a little bit of reps, get a little bit of this, get a little bit of that, watch Texas over the last couple years make a deep run in the playoff. Now, he’s ready, now he has had a chance to mature,” Herbstreit said. “I would not be shocked if he goes out there? The moment will not be too big.”

Again, the consensus at this point is that this process has been intentional, deliberate, or calculated by the Mannings. Arch Manning could’ve gone to a lot of colleges and been their starting quarterback right away, even being able to justify that he could’ve started last year for Texas. Instead, they were patient for the last two years, allowing him to develop and prepare for this season and the moment of it all.

That, of course, starts tomorrow with the opening game with No. 1 Texas vs. No. 3 Ohio State in The ‘Shoe. That’ll be a lot for Manning to handle regardless against the Buckeyes, but Herbstreit is ready to see how that aspect of the game plays out tomorrow afternoon in Columbus.

“The Ohio State defense, the crowd, which most quarterbacks struggle with? I think, because of the way they did it, I think, these last two years will really benefit him,” said Herbstreit. “He’s going up against a defense that will fly around with Matt Patricia, with an NFL scheme. A lot of new faces – Ohio State lose eight defensive players that were three years starters. That’s a ton of experience that led them to a national title.”

“It’s going to be fun,” Herbstreit said. “You’ve got Arch Manning. You’ve got a new Ohio State defense, with a new coordinator, you know, right back behind me. Let’s put the ball in the air and see who’s the better team at noon.”