I’ve Never Said That About Anybody” – Ed Orgeron Throws Major Shade (and Praise) on Arch Manning, Pots Stand on Stove!

Ed Orgeron, the larger-than-life former head coach of LSU, went off-script and on fire this week—and what he said about Arch Manning might just leave Texas fans buzzing and rivals scratching their heads. The man who helped mold Joe Burrow into a Heisman-winning, national championship hero recently dropped a quote so loaded it could move dynasties.

Orgeron, speaking on the Pardon My Take podcast, broke it down: he’s seen elite quarterbacks up close, but there’s one name that still stands above them all—Joe Burrow. Yet, this time, he didn’t stop there. After watching Arch Manning practice at Texas—who, let’s remind ourselves, hasn’t taken more than a handful of snaps in his college career—Orgeron said: “Arch is as close to—or maybe as good as—Joe [(Burrow)] as I’ve seen. And I’ve never said that about anybody.” Booming statement. Mic drop. CBSSports.comSI

That sentence alone is a freight train. It echoes with weight. Because Joe Burrow didn’t just have a great season—he had one of the greatest seasons in college football history. He shattered records, won the Heisman by a mile, and capped it with a national title. He elevated the LSU program to legendary status overnight. To draw a comparison between him and Arch—who, realistically, has barely taken a full-season’s worth of reps—is like saying a rookie movie feels as iconic as The Godfather. It’s bold. It’s edgy. And for the Texas offense, it’s about to add pressure hotter than the Texas August sun.

Let’s paint the picture: Orgeron visits Texas, hangs out at their clinic, scopes Arch in live action—not on a screen fade, not in a polished promo video—but in real-life practice drills. What he saw lit a spark. He knows what he’s talking about. He’s the kind of coach who doesn’t hand out accolades lightly. The fact that he’s making the Burrow comparison—and stressing that he’s never said that about any other player—that resonates. It might even rattle a few cages.

Now imagine being Arch Manning, the heir to a football dynasty, stepping into the role as Texas’s full-time starter. Expectations were already skyscraper-level high—Heisman hype, national title talk, the whole nine yards. Now, a veteran coach who saw greatness in Burrow says you stack up with that guy. That’s not just hype. That’s pressure courting your ankles.

Let’s not forget, Burrow is still Burrow. One of the best single seasons a college quarterback has ever had, and that’s still the bar. Orgeron’s words aren’t meant to be casual compliments—they’re more like time bombs. He’s almost handing the narrative to Arch: your ceiling isn’t just high—it’s legendary.

Texas fans are probably decoding the quote as a blessing, the sideline equivalent of “We believe.” But for the rest of college football? It’s a gauntlet thrown in the dirt. Because if you’re going to live up to a comparison with Burrow, you better be prepared to lean into it—or get burned by it.

What’s wild is that Orgeron, the guy who drew national squiggles in the wake of 2019’s perfection, is out of coaching but still so sharp. He sees talent. He recognizes traits. And he isn’t giving out comparisons willy-nilly. If he’s sidling up next to Arch, it means Arch has something special sitting under that helmet.

There’s also this whole backstory in the background: Texas recruited Arch hard. LSU wanted him too. Orgeron was the first big-name coach to visit him in high school. That’s not lost on anyone. Now, to hear that he thinks Arch could be Burrow-tier… it’s delicious narrative gold. Some folks will see it as validation. Others will see it as a setup for merciless expectations.

Of course, Arch’s college resume is still modest: a handful of attempts, sub-100 passing yards, not much real pressure yet. But if he’s got the poise, the pocket presence, the ceiling that Orgeron senses… that’s what dreams are made of.

And as for Texas? They’ve loaded into the season with swagger, plus a new starter at QB aiming for the playoff. Now, with Coach O indirectly blessing Arch’s front shoulder, that swagger is met with expectation. National media has a new bullet headline. Rival defenses have new tape to watch. The hype moves up another notch on the Richter scale.

Looking ahead to Week 1—the massive opener with Ohio State—that spotlight just got glare upgrades. Whoever lines up across from Arch had better be ready for an arm that has been stamped with some serious indie approval.

Let’s savor this: a former championship-winning coach, a guy who’s earned credibility beyond the lines, looks at Arch and says, “You may be the next Joe Burrow.” And then adds, “I don’t give that line lightly.”

That moment, that line, is going to follow Arch Manning all season long. It’s a blessing. It’s a target. It’s a legend whispering in a young quarterback’s ear, daring him to become one.