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USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN's Paul Finebaum hails Arch Manning as generational QB, rips Sark for playing Ewers
The buzz and expectations are growing around Texas QB Arch Manning as the start of the 2025 season approaches. ESPN college football guru Paul Finebaum thinks Manning is a generational talent. Finebaum thinks Manning's potential is through "the absolute roof" and he will most likely be a Heisman finalist. 'I think there's a reasonably good chance that Arch Manning will be sitting on the front row in New York at the Heisman ceremony, that's assuming his team does what it is supposed to do and competes not only for the SEC but for the national championship. And I really believe they will." -- ESPN's Paul Finebaum The longtime SEC journalist is comparing the arrival of Manning to the arrival of one of the best college quarterbacks of the modern era. 'I believe also that Arch Manning is the best college football quarterback we have seen since Tim Tebow entered the scene in 2006." -- ESPN's Paul Finebaum Finebaum, who works with Tebow on SEC Nation, also thinks Texas coach Steve Sarkisian made a major mistake not going to Manning last season during UT's college football playoffs semifinal loss to Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. 'I think Steve Sarkisian ... made a critical mistake late in the year. He was way too loyal to Quinn Ewers, who was banged up and really ineffective. Had Arch Manning been (inserted) in the 2nd half of that game vs. Ohio State like Nick Saban did years ago with Tua Tagovailoa, I think there's a reasonably good chance that Texas would have beaten Ohio State and won the national championship.' -- ESPN's Paul Finebaum. Finebaum's take isn't unique among pundits outside the Texas program. Last week, former Florida coach Steve Spurrier said something very similar. 'Most people are picking Texas to win the SEC in football. They've got Arch Manning already winning the Heisman, too. My question is, if he was this good how come they let Quinn Ewers play all the time last year? He was a 7th round pick?' -- Steve Spurrier on Another Dooley Noted Podcast And USA TODAY Sports writer Matt Hayes said the decision to keep Manning on the bench was, "what could one day be considered a monumentally poor decision by one of the game's best coaches." Of course, Sark doesn't agree with that logic and says there's a big reason he was loyal to Ewers. "First of all, Quinn Ewers decided to come to the University of Texas when we were a 5-11 football team. We owe a ton to Quinn. Because if Quinn Ewers doesn't come, I don't know if the next five guys are coming. And if those next 5 guys don't come, I don't know if the next 10 guys are coming. Here's a guy that started for three years at quarterback for us. Battled injuries all three years. Leads us to two college football playoffs. Leads us to a Big 12 championship. Leads us to an SEC Championship Game, our first year in the conference. And that's his 'legacy' here. His legacy is way bigger than just that."" -- Texas coach Steve Sarkisian told CBS Sports' Josh Pate in May. On Monday, Sark told ESPN's Greg McElroy that he thinks Manning actually had the perfect situation to thrive and is ready now that he's the starting QB. "I don't think that I could have predicted a better way for this to go for him. He's grown exponentially. Not only on the football field, but as a leader, as a person. I think he's ready to play now and play at a high level and I think he's earned the respect of this teammates. They know he's not playing because of the name on the back of his jersey. He's going to be our starting quarterback because he's earned it." -- Steve Sarkisian on the Always College Football Podcast. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @LonghornsWire.
USA Today
24-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Steve Spurrier questions Steve Sarkisian's handling of Arch Manning and Quinn Ewers
Steve Spurrier is tired of hearing that the Texas Longhorns are the favorites to win the SEC in 2025. The "head ball coach" questions a lot of things about the UT program, including the entire quarterback situation over the past two years. 'Most people are picking Texas to win the SEC in football,' Spurrier said on Another Dooley Noted Podcast. 'They've got Arch Manning already winning the Heisman, too. My question is, if he was this good how come they let Quinn Ewers play all the time last year? He was a 7th round pick?' After the dust settled on last season, there were many that felt Texas coach Steve Sarkisian's decision to stick with Ewers at quarterback might have cost Texas last year's national title. To extrapolate further, if Manning had started last season and UT didn't win the title, at least Arch would have more experience going into this season. USA TODAY Sports writer Matt Hayes said the decision to keep Manning on the bench was, "what could one day be considered a monumentally poor decision by one of the game's best coaches." It seems Spurrier shares that opinion. If Manning is so good, shouldn't he have beat out Ewers? The Texas QB room over the past two years was one of the most unique in college football history. Never before (and probably never again) has a QB room featured two No. 1 ranked players in the nation. 'It's probably pretty annoying having me as a backup," Manning deadpanned this spring. For his part, Sark defends his decision to stick with Ewers. Sark told CBS Sports' Josh Pate in May that he owed Ewers a lot. "First of all, Quinn Ewers decided to come to the University of Texas when we were a 5-11 football team. We owe a ton to Quinn," Sarkisian said. "Because if Quinn Ewers doesn't come, I don't know if the next five guys are coming. And if those next 5 guys don't come, I don't know if the next 10 guys are coming." And that's really the answer to why Sark didn't bench Ewers. He felt everything Texas is building started with Ewers decision to transfer to Texas from Ohio State. Will Sark ever be that loyal again? It's hard to tell. But to program outsiders who don't know that piece of information, playing Ewers over Manning didn't make much sense. 'You only have to ask Coach Sark how come you played that one instead of this one,' Spurrier said. 'Hopefully he'll say 'Because we thought he was better than that one.' Isn't that why you play one guy and not the other? Unless it was discipline, and there was no discipline or anything.' Whether Spurrier genuinely didn't know why Sark stuck with Ewers, thought the reasoning was flawed or is just trying to disrupt a growing SEC power, it still brings the questions up again. "Here's a guy that started for three years at quarterback for us," Sark told Pate. "Battled injuries all three years. Leads us to two college football playoffs. Leads us to a Big 12 championship. Leads us to an SEC Championship Game, our first year in the conference. And that's his 'legacy' here. His legacy is way bigger than just that." But Sark and Manning don't seem to pay much attention to outside noise, even from a Hall of Fame coach. The two are focused on 2025 and Ohio State on Aug. 30.
USA Today
15-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Where does Auburn's 'kick six' rank among ESPN's best plays since 2000?
Where does Auburn's 'kick six' rank among ESPN's best plays since 2000? Every Auburn fan remembers where they were the moment Chris Davis crossed the end zone to beat Alabama in 2013. Many Auburn fans remember where they were on Nov. 28, 2013, when Chris Davis returned a missed Alabama field goal 109 yards to the end zone as time expired, leading the No. 4 Auburn Tigers to a 34-28 win over No. 1 Alabama at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The play known affectionately as the "kick six" sent Auburn to the SEC Championship Game to represent the SEC West at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, which ultimately led the Tigers to its second BCS National Championship game in four seasons. It is a play that is fresh on every college football fans' mind, regardless of how it makes each individual feel. There have been several unforgettable plays over the last 25 years, where does the Chris Davis return rank among them? ESPN recently revealed its list of the top 25 plays since 2000, and has given the iconic return the top spot. ESPN set up the play, describing Alabama running back TJ Yeldon's run that ended out of bounds, seemingly ending regulation. However, Alabama head coach Nick Saban pleaded his case to put one second back on the clock, to give his field goal unit enough time to kick the go-ahead field goal. Saban was awarded the extra second, to which he called on kicker Adam Griffith to relieve Cade Foster, who missed three field goals earlier in the game, to attempt the 56-yard field goal. The kick, as we know it, fell short and set Davis up with the memorable return. Chris Low of ESPN shared the implications of the kick for both Alabama and Auburn fans. The loss kept Saban and the previously unbeaten Crimson Tide from playing for what would have been their third straight national championship. Auburn advanced to the final BCS national championship game, where the Tigers in Gus Malzahn's first season as coach lost to Florida State in the final seconds. It's a play that will live in the hearts of Auburn fans, who can still hear the school's radio play-by-play announcer, the late Rod Bramblett, screaming "Auburn's going to win the football game!" as Davis crossed the goal line. The kick six happened two weeks after another miracle play occurred. Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall connected with wide receiver Ricardo Louis on 4th and 18 with 0:36 remaining in their game with Georgia to go ahead of the Bulldogs and ultimately win, 43-38. Other key plays to join the "kick six" in the top five are Boise State's statue of liberty play to beat Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, Appalachian State's blocked kick to stun Michigan in 2005, and Vince Young's touchdown scramble to beat USC in the 2006 BCS National Championship Game. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kirby Smart, Georgia Add Another Recruiting Win as Surge Continues
Kirby Smart, Georgia Add Another Recruiting Win as Surge Continues originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Head coach Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs continue to bolster the class of 2026 during an important recruiting period. Advertisement The Bulldogs had yet to surpass 10 commitments in the 2026 cycle at this time last month. After a number of high-profile official visits, though, things have certainly picked up. Marking the fourth commitment over the last two weeks, Georgia received a pledge from in-state offensive lineman Zachary Lewis on Monday. Lewis (6-foot-4, 270 pounds) plays for North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, Georgia, where he ranks as the No. 32 interior offensive lineman and the No. 53 player in the state (247Sports). Georgia coach Kirby Smart leads his team onto the field before the start of the SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Georgia hosted Lewis on an official visit over the weekend after he previously took an official trip to in-state rival Georgia Tech on May 30. South Carolina and North Carolina were also in contention for Lewis before he announced his decision. Advertisement 'I've grown up a Dawgs fan and now I get to be a Dawg!" Lewis said via On3's Hayes Fawcett. The Bulldogs began the month of June by landing highly touted cornerback Justice Fitzpatrick, the brother of former Alabama Crimson Tide standout and current Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. Justice Fitzpatrick, out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, ranks as a top-100 recruit and the No. 8 player at his position. Additionally, Georgia landed four-star defensive lineman Carter Luckie on May 31 after receiving a pledge from four-star wide receiver Ryan Mosley three days earlier. Advertisement Now holding 13 commitments to date, Smart and Co. sit fifth nationally and have an inside track to finish with another top-five class. Georgia hasn't finished outside the top five in nine consecutive years under Smart. Related: Nation's No. 1 RB Sounds Off Against Recruiting Report After Ohio State Visit Related: Nation's No. 1 Linebacker Responds To Georgia's Major Recruiting Win This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ex-Georgia QB Carson Beck's Massive NIL Deal With Miami Revealed
Ex-Georgia QB Carson Beck's Massive NIL Deal With Miami Revealed originally appeared on Athlon Sports. In the NIL era of college football, quarterbacks don't have to make the NFL to become millionaires. Signal-callers are reaching paydays in the multi-millions per season at the college level. Advertisement There's few better examples of that than former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck. On3's Pete Nakos reported Sunday that Beck will make in excess of $4 million to play for the Miami Hurricanes this fall. "One thing is clear: The price of an elite quarterback is not dropping," Nakos wrote. "In this year's college football transfer portal, jaw-dropping quarterback numbers included a $3 million offer from Duke for Darian Mensah. "Georgia's Carson Beck transferred to Miami and stands to make more than $4 million. Missouri agreed to terms on a $1.5 million deal with Penn State transfer Beau Pribula in December, too." Former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck© Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The Bobby Carpenter Show host Anthony Schlegel said during the first week of June that Beck was going to make $4.3 million with his NIL deal in 2025. Advertisement Schlegel said that is ranked second-highest in college football behind only Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning. Beck announced his decision to transfer from Georgia to Miami on January 10, which was just a little more than a week after the Bulldogs suffered their playoff defeat to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Beck didn't play in that game because of an elbow injury, which he sustained in the SEC Championship Game versus Texas. During his final season with the Bulldogs, Beck completed 64.7% of his passes for 3,485 passing yards with 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The quarterback posted significantly better statistics during 2023. Advertisement In Miami, Beck will replace quarterback Cam Ward, who became the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Related: Coveted Playmaker Sends Clear Message on Future With Historic College Football Program This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
