2025 College Football Thread

[The Sultan]

Can't deny the trajectory he is on, but maybe too soon for a definitive judgment?

Both can be true. He is cearly the NIL era's most significant flop, but he definitely can improve.

OTOH, Ron Powlus never did.

[MU82]

Can't deny the trajectory he is on, but maybe too soon for a definitive judgment?

The columnist acknowledged as much. He used "so far" a couple of times.

Also, what Sultan said.

[Jockey]

Arch Manning = Graham Mertz


Hype, hype, hype, flop.

[RJax55]

Arch Manning = Graham Mertz


Hype, hype, hype, flop.

Only people in Wisconsin were hyping Graham Mertz.

[RJax55]

Arch was always going to have hype on him given his last name. That would be the case with or without NIL.

Until Saturday, I would argue that it was Nico Iamaleava who was looking like the biggest flop of the NIL era. If that game was just a one off for UCLA, still might be the case.

[The Sultan]

Yeah, that is why I think Ron Powlus is a better comp. ESPN's Beano Cook said he would win three Heismans, just like their current Beano, Paul Fienbaum, said Arch would win it this year.

[MU82]

Arch was always going to have hype on him given his last name. That would be the case with or without NIL.

Yes, but without NIL, he wouldn't be appearing in several national advertising campaigns - ads that have increased his fame and wealth and the sky-high hype surrounding him.

The Athletic's Flagg comparison was right on. The difference is that Flagg delivered, living up to the hype. So far, Arch hasn't.

Ten years ago, one could make the argument that it wasn't a hyped college athlete's "fault" that he was over-hyped. Using Sultan's example, it wasn't Powlus' fault that Beano was going ga-ga over him. But these days, athletes are seeking out the notoriety - and the money and the hype that go with it.

I obviously don't blame Arch or any other athlete for going for the $$$. I am a big advocate of them having the right to do so.

[Uncle Rico]

Yeah, that is why I think Ron Powlus is a better comp. ESPN's Beano Cook said he would win three Heismans, just like their current Beano, Paul Fienbaum, said Arch would win it this year.

Speaking of Finebaum, looks like his campaign for public office is flailing.

[jesmu84]

If arch manning had been born josh smith and went on to dominate small school football somewhere similar, would he recruitment and hype been the same?

Did Arch's name and high school success project him far better than they should have?

[Pakuni]

NIL is ruining college sports.

https://x.com/ESPNPR/status/1975679377657450711

[Pakuni]

If arch manning had been born josh smith and went on to dominate small school football somewhere similar, would he recruitment and hype been the same?

Did Arch's name and high school success project him far better than they should have?

Obviously the name brought hype, but he'd have been a top QB prospect if his name were Josh Smith. He's 6'4", about 220 and reportedly was clocked running a 4.65 40 in high school. He's got arm talent.
He's had all of seven starts in his career. He may not live up to the hype, but he's still got tons of runway.

If you look at the track record of 5-star QBs over the past decade, he's far from the biggest disappointment.

[MU82]

Obviously the name brought hype, but he'd have been a top QB prospect if his name were Josh Smith. He's 6'4", about 220 and reportedly was clocked running a 4.65 40 in high school. He's got arm talent.
He's had all of seven starts in his career. He may not live up to the hype, but he's still got tons of runway.

If you look at the track record of 5-star QBs over the past decade, he's far from the biggest disappointment.

Agree with all of this, especially it still being early for him.

But given the level of hype - which, again, he strongly contributed to - he's on a pretty short list of major disappointments. He's not been very good, and his team, ranked #1 going into the season, is mediocre at best. Calling him the biggest disappointment of the NIL era doesn't seem much of a stretch.

So far. Seriously gotta make sure to say "so far," though.

[Shaka Shart]

Can't deny the trajectory he is on, but maybe too soon for a definitive judgment?

4-5 years to judge IMO

[Uncle Rico]

Agree with all of this, especially it still being early for him.

But given the level of hype - which, again, he strongly contributed to - he's on a pretty short list of major disappointments. He's not been very good, and his team, ranked #1 going into the season, is mediocre at best. Calling him the biggest disappointment of the NIL era doesn't seem much of a stretch.

So far. Seriously gotta make sure to say "so far," though.

He's indecisive and makes poor choices.  It's possible that gets coached out of him but the indecisiveness is a massive problem.  A lot of his sacks are on him and not his line.  I don't think his line is great but against Florida, a lot of those sacks and pressures were his fault.

[Pakuni]

Agree with all of this, especially it still being early for him.

But given the level of hype - which, again, he strongly contributed to - he's on a pretty short list of major disappointments. He's not been very good, and his team, ranked #1 going into the season, is mediocre at best. Calling him the biggest disappointment of the NIL era doesn't seem much of a stretch.

So far. Seriously gotta make sure to say "so far," though.

Honest question ... how has he "strongly contributed" to the hype. Willingly sitting on the bench for two years when he could have chosen (out of high school) or transferred to a school where he was promised QB1 doesn't strike me as the behavior of someone seeking attention.

He's basically Drew Allar with a famous surname.

[Uncle Rico]

Honest question ... how has he "strongly contributed" to the hype. Willingly sitting on the bench for two years when he could have chosen (out of high school) or transferred to a school where he was promised QB1 doesn't strike me as the behavior of someone seeking attention.

He's basically Drew Allar with a famous surname.

He made commercials

[Pakuni]

He made commercials

Sandy Koufax would never

[Uncle Rico]

Sandy Koufax would never

I watched Sandy Koufax sign autographs for six days straight once.

[JWags85]

Obviously the name brought hype, but he'd have been a top QB prospect if his name were Josh Smith. He's 6'4", about 220 and reportedly was clocked running a 4.65 40 in high school. He's got arm talent.
He's had all of seven starts in his career. He may not live up to the hype, but he's still got tons of runway.

If you look at the track record of 5-star QBs over the past decade, he's far from the biggest disappointment.

I personally find all the revisionist history about his high school competition to be amusing.  None of the video on his is new.  The clips of him playing at Isidore Newman have been viewed millions of times and the take away was his play making, his arm, and his mobility/speed for being as big as he is.  Now suddenly everyone is pretending they knew his was overrated all along cause his HS competition was weak.

As for the 5 star graveyard, its shockingly stark.  Ive seen a few Tik Tok compilations of "Where Are They Now" for the top 5-10 QBs of each class from the early 2010s and onward and its pretty wild how few were impact players.  You can make the argument for Arch in the last few NIL years, but compare him to a guy like Tate Martell and he's nowhere near the flop.  Martell was insanely highly touted, starred in a Netflix reality series about his recruitment, flipped from Sark at Washington, to A&M, then OSU...then ended up throwing 30 passes total in 5 years of college at 3 different schools.

I'll admit to being completely and utterly wrong about Arch this year.  Didn't think he'd waltz to a Heisman but said I'd be surprised if he wasn't really solid.  But yea, he's still got another year and a half to prove himself.  I'd be as much concerned as Sark losing his team and the entire squad melting down around him as Arch's performance himself.

[The Sultan]

Yeah I can't figure hire out how Arch "strongly contributed" to the hype. He was just born with a famous last name and was good in high school. So should he just ignore the opportunities that come with that?

[Uncle Rico]

Yeah I can't figure hire out how Arch "strongly contributed" to the hype. He was just born with a famous last name and was good in high school. So should he just ignore the opportunities that come with that?

Yes, he should learn humility and play for the name on the front of the jersey

[MU82]

Honest question ... how has he "strongly contributed" to the hype. Willingly sitting on the bench for two years when he could have chosen (out of high school) or transferred to a school where he was promised QB1 doesn't strike me as the behavior of someone seeking attention.

He's basically Drew Allar with a famous surname.

"Strongly contributed" was too strongly worded by me, so mea culpa. Like Flagg, he (and his agent) made himself a major presence in American households before he ever started a game, which added to the hype, no?

I've already said I don't blame him one iota for taking advantage of every financial opportunity.

He hasn't quite been the Sandy Koufax of college football. But then again, it took Koufax a little time to become a legend.

[Jockey]

Only people in Wisconsin were hyping Graham Mertz.

ESPN rated him as the best pocket passer in the class of 2019 and 21st highest rated recruit overall.

[Pakuni]

This seems like a truly terrible idea with no plausible benefits I can see.

https://x.com/ralphDrussoATH/status/1975955626728869911

[Billy Hoyle]

What's the worst that could happen? It's not as if college players and kids could possibly obtain insider information on pro games. Certainly, no pros would engage in any activities to influence the outcome of a game.