Ex‑LSU Coach Drops Jaw‑Dropping Line: ‘Arch’s the Closest Thing to Joe Burrow I’ve Ever Seen’ Ahead of Texas Opener
There’s hype, and then there’s what happened when Arch Manning stepped onto the field and former LSU coach Ed Orgeron basically dropped a bombshell. In a moment that stopped heads mid-turn, Orgeron—who famously coached Joe Burrow through his historic 2019 Heisman-winning, national championship season—looked at Manning and said something wild: “Arch is as close to—or maybe as good as—Joe I’ve seen. And I’ve never said that about anybody.” If your jaw didn’t hit the ground reading that, you’re probably not a college football fan. That setup isn’t just clickbait; it’s one of the boldest preseason takes I’ve ever seen, and it sets the stage for Texas to roll into the 2025 opener against national champ Ohio State with a fair share of swagger.
Texas fans have watched the build-up all summer: Arch Manning, sitting behind Quinn Ewers for a couple of seasons, finally gets his full-time shot. He’s touted for his poise, leadership, and natural ability to light it up when he’s on—just look at the 939 passing yards, nine touchdowns, and even some serious running threat last year. But now picture this: O, who knows better than just about anyone what greatness looks like, saying the kid’s on par with Burrow. That’s the kind of statement you don’t just breeze past. And it’s that claim—delivered on the “Pardon My Take” podcast—that’s got the national media buzzing, the Longhorns drinking deep from the hype well, and rival coaches looking on like the sky’s about to fall on them.
Roll into fall camp, and things only heated up. Coach Sarkisian didn’t shy away from leaning into Arch’s athleticism and versatility. He tweaked the offense to let Manning’s mobility shine—tapping into RPOs, zone-reads, and short-yardage packages that let the quarterback scramble, extend plays, and keep defenses guessing. Let’s not forget those jaw-dropping runs last season—like the 67-yard sprint for a touchdown versus UTSA that felt like a trailer for what’s coming next. This offense under Sarkisian is being Archified, retooled around his ability to throw deep but also run when the moment demands it.
Now pile on the expectations: Arch is not just stepping into a starting job; he’s stepping into a role swirling with Vince Young-level expectations, Heisman talk, and whispers of an NFL one-day future. But to hear Orgeron say it, Manning’s got the kind of instincts and confidence that lived in Burrow when he ripped through SEC defenses and shattered every expectation in 2019. It’s one thing to hear comparisons from analysts or commentators. It’s quite another for the man who helped mold one of the best single seasons in college football history to throw that line at you.
That’s the kind of preseason storyline you don’t just summarize—you ride it. We’re not talking about Air Raid quick-release wizardry. We’re talking about a pro-style framework adapted to let Arch flash instincts, improv wisdom, and arm talent that puts defenders all over the field on their heels. Playing Ohio State as your opener is like jumping into the deep end without floaties—but if anyone can turn that overt expectation into an exclamation mark, it’s someone with that kind of stamp of approval.
Picture the scenes: fall practice sessions buzzing, teammates lining up and watching Arch step up to the line, the field buzzing with possibility. And across from him, another QB room doing whatever they can to prep for the day the ball is coming their way. Fans packing the stands ready to see if Arch lives up to the hype—or maybe even exceeds it. Headlines everywhere wanting to parse how the offense shifts, what adjustments Sarkisian will dial up, and whether Arch can hold Sam Ehlinger-level legacy status once the season plays out.
But let’s be honest—this isn’t guaranteed fairy tale country. The kid’s got to go out and do it. He’s dealing with one of the toughest schedules in college football history—everybody wants to prove dominance with Texas in the SEC now. The offensive line is a question mark, juggling fresh faces replacing NFL-bound starters. Every throw, every scramble, every turnover will get amplified. He’s the face of the program. Every high school star wants that role, until real defense shows real game, and he’s got to produce in real time. The pressure’s immense—but Orgeron saying he’s as good as Burrow? That’s the kind of crazy that sets arcs on fire.
Slow down, though, because side-by-side with all that early-season mania, there’s a method. Sarkisian is not letting the hype drive the bus solo; he’s building the offense to support everything Arch can bring. He’s carefully crafting game scripts to maximize spacing for the deep ball while giving designed lanes for Arch to run when blitz looks pop, disguising coverages, forcing hurried reactions—letting that pro-style foundation mix with a hint of chaos only a quarterback of Arch’s talent can create.
Still, there’s the question of nerves. The bright lights of Columbus with Ohio State’s defense, the weight of the Longhorns’ history, the Manning legacy, the expectations—that’s enough to make any 21-year-old’s hands sweat. But Sarkisian’s talking like Arch naturally handles that heat. He’s talking about Arch winking in practice after a perfect ball to light up the fan base—something that reads like charisma dialed to eleven. That intangible leadership? That’s the kind of thing you can’t teach, and one reason O might’ve made that Burrow comment without sliding into hyperbole. Calling it conservative is almost funnier than the line itself.
Load up that opener against a reigning national champ defense, add six straight road games in the grueling SEC, tight paths to control every part of the offense—this is Arch’s proving ground. If he stumbles early, the pressure will swing back to reset the narrative. But if he thrives—and he’s got the hype engine, the approval of a former Heisman QB coach, and the blueprint from Sarkisian—I think we’re looking at the season that defines his legacy.
Matchup after matchup, every time he checks the ball, delivers it perfectly, or yards after contact turns into a touchdown, the chorus grows louder. The whispers become headlines. But whether he’s Burrow-level or supremely talented QB1 in a new era, the only way we’ll know is by game 12 or 13, not by podcast comment.
As we countdown to that first snap, every analyst has thrown their name in: Tebow, Trevor Lawrence, the old guard. But Orgeron’s weight behind that line—that’s what separates the simmer from a full boil. Arch knows what’s at stake. He’s embracing the moment like a quarterback should: head down, dialed in, ready to show just how close—or better—he is to a legend.
And once the smoke clears from the Ohio State showdown, we’ll know if Arch Manning is merely humming out of the gate or loudly making a claim as the best QB in college football since we’ve seen one. Either way, buckle up: this ride’s already heading full speed.
