Commentary: Many expect Arch Manning to be great. Just good might be enough for Texas to win in 2025.

DALLAS — Paul Finebaum once called Bill Curry, one of the most venerated men ever to play or coach football and a genuinely nice guy in the bargain, "a scumbag with no credibility," so when the host of the nation's most popular college football show claimed Arch Manning could be "the greatest college quarterback since Tim Tebow," you probably should consider who's at the throttle of the hype train. Finebaum leaned into his bit at SEC media days in Atlanta when Manning unexpectedly reached out to greet him Tuesday. "Easily the best handshake since Tim Tebow," he tweeted. Even as he's pulling our leg while tugging at Manning's elbow, Finebaum has also stated the obvious about the heir to football royalty, not to mention Quinn Ewers: Arch doesn't have to be another Tebow, Cam Newton, Johnny Manziel or Joe Burrow, to name a few of his favorites growing up. He doesn't have to spin it as beautifully as Ewers did, either. But if he can give Steve Sarkisian's offense a little of Ewers' daring and a dose of Sam Ehlinger's legs while remaining upright in the process, it just might give Sark the title that's exceeded his grasp lately. Texas advanced to the final four the last two seasons with a quarterback who had a habit of coming up just short of greatness. Losing to Washington and Ohio State in the semis wasn't necessarily Ewers' fault either time, but his inability to avoid trouble certainly didn't help. The strip sack returned for a touchdown against the Buckeyes will remain a case in point in perpetuity. Of course, it shouldn't have come down to that play, either. Sark's decision to run wide at the goal line instead of barging into the belly of the Buckeyes' defense will be his cross to bear. But, as calls go, he made the right one to keep Ewers at quarterback with the most famous name in college football at his elbow. Come to think of it, Sark showed considerable grace Tuesday when introduced to the rousing strains of "The Aggie War Hymn." Man never even flinched at the mix-up. Went straight to his prepared speech, demonstrating either a razor-sharp focus or an inability to distinguish one school song from another. Anyway, Sark was right to stick with Ewers the last couple of years. What we saw of Manning in a limited sampling last year wasn't enough to make his coach think otherwise. If he'd benched a healthy Ewers, and Manning subsequently bombed, he'd have had another Major Applewhite/Chris Simms mess on his hands. Ewers remained a class act throughout the public debate, a point Manning noted Tuesday. "I learned a lot from Quinn," Manning said. "I said earlier, it probably was not fun having me as the backup, but he handled it like a pro, whether it was the media or just taking care of his body or film study. "He was a pro and still a friend and I still ask him for advice." Like Ewers, Manning has remained loyal to Texas at a time when quarterbacks get up to go to the bathroom and don't come back. Most observers — this one, for instance — figured one or the other quarterback would be long gone in short order. Manning said Tuesday he came to Texas for the town ("a cool city"), the school and the football program, maybe in that order. His opinions haven't changed since, calling it "a no-brainer for me to stay." Starting just two games over the last two seasons hasn't been easy, he said, but it has also afforded him time to grow into his role. Before you can lead, he said, you must first know your teammates. For the record, they seem to like him. Not hard to see why. His uncles, Peyton and Eli, are the celebrities now, but some of us can recall the excitement Archie wrung from rag-tag Saints teams. The Mannings are a tight-knit group, but Arch is especially close to his grandfather. "We're, like, best friends," he said. "He texts me every day. Texts all the grandkids. He's just a great role model for me. "He reminds me just be a good guy and be a good teammate, and that's what I try to do." Manning's family and friends keep him grounded. Like the reaction he got after admiring one of his shots in a recent round. Asked Tuesday what it's like to be the most famous person in Austin, he shrugged it off, assigning the title to Matthew McConaughey, Texas' minister of culture. Sarkisian has been impressed with the young man behind the big arm and nimble feet. Great guy, great teammate. Even keel. Quick wit. Humble nature. "If he stays true to himself," Sark said, "that will help him navigate these waters." Manning is smart enough not to pay any attention to the hordes eager to hoist him up on a pedestal. Or at least a podium. Doesn't matter if the praise comes from the voice of the SEC or a four-column-a-week columnist or some knucklehead typing with his thumbs. "I'm not really in the business – this is gonna sound mean – but, like, caring what people think," he said. "I'm grateful that y'all think that, but I've only played two games, so I've got a lot to prove. "I'm ready to play, though." Texas is ready, too. Been ready. The good news for Manning as well as Texas is he doesn't have to be great yet. Good should be good enough. Here's betting even Tim Tebow would shake on that.