Paul Finebaum claims Arch Manning will be Texas' starting quarterback by end of season

Texas is currently enjoying a massive gathering on The 40 Acres to celebrate their introduction into the SEC. However, with Paul Finebaum himself down in Austin for the party, he seemed to make a major statement regarding the Longhorns’ quarterback spot for this upcoming season.

Tyler Feldman of KVUE News asked Finebaum who he thought Texas’ QB1 would be by the end of this year. His response was a massive one as he actually went with Arch Manning over Quinn Ewers.

“That would be Arch Manning. I don’t need to tiptoe around that,” Finebaum stated.

“That is guaranteed. You heard it,” added Finebaum. “We may even see him a little bit throughout the season.”

However, upon realizing the chatter about it afterward, Finebaum has since clarified his stance.

“I may be feeble but I’m not that feeble,” Finebaum explained on ‘SEC Now’ later in the night. “When the guy said end of the season? I thought he meant end of the season. I don’t want to back away from anything I said but I did give an interview earlier to a young man with the local tv. I’ve been seeing that pop up and I’m, like, going, ‘What was I drinking?'”

“I’m glad that you gave me a chance to clarify it because I really was thinking end of season,” said Finebaum. “He’s going to be the starter next year and I said guaranteed, mark it down. I would never impugn Ewers because I think he’s probably the second-best quarterback in the country starting the year.”

Oh well. That ends a talking point from Finebaum that would have been a huge development down in Austin for 2024.

Manning is the reserve quarterback for now as he enters his second season at Texas. That’s how he projects after being in the same spot last year where he appeared in two games. Still, with his pedigree out of high school and within his family tree, he will eventually get the reins for the Longhorns after Ewers.

As for Ewers, he remains there ahead of his fourth collegiate season and third as the starter for Texas. He has more than earned his spot in the lineup, especially after last season where he threw for just shy of 3,500 yards and 22 touchdowns on 69% completion en route to a 12-2 record with a Big 12 Championship and an appearance in the College Football Playoff. Now, he’s back as a junior as one of the best quarterbacks in all of college football.

Texas’ quarterback battle is always going to be a conversation considering the two names competing in it. With that said, Finebaum’s opinion on this one didn’t end up being as significant as it was, even though he was glad to let it go on.

“I actually started to clarify but I go, ‘I’m getting such good run. Let it run!'” laughed Finebaum.