Since Arch Manning signed with the Texas Longhorns, he’s been touted as the next great quarterback of college football. Most of that comes from his family name, with comparisons to his uncles Peyton and Eli, along with his grandfather Archie, being endless.
Those go without saying simply because they are family ties. But after his sluggish start to the 2025 season, those comparisons have shrunk almost entirely. However, OrangeBloods.com, a dedicated Longhorns news page, brought up a new comparison: Joe Burrow.
The page used Burrow’s first three games at LSU back in 2018 and compared them to Manning’s first three games this season.
Check it out below:
Burrow Went on to Win the Fiesta Bowl and then the National Championship the Following Season 🏆
Burrow’s first full season with the Tigers overall wasn’t that memorable. Even after the game against Auburn, the next week against Louisiana Tech he passed for only 191 yards with no scores. There was a stretch where he didn’t throw for a single touchdown for four straight games. He finished the season throwing for 2,894 yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions, with 399 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
Can Arch Manning Turn it Around Like Joe Burrow Did?
Manning’s 2025 season is still playing out, but LSU finished the 2018 season 10-3 with a win over UCF in the Fiesta Bowl. The following year, Burrow won the Heisman Trophy and LSU went undefeated and won the national championship.
That looks bleak right now for Manning, who is completing just 55.3% of his passes for 1,548 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions. But Burrow’s rise from one season to the next is no doubt inspiring for the young quarterback.
Remember also, Burrow only had brief game appearances while at Ohio State as a backup. He didn’t become a starter until his first season in Baton Rouge. While not a transfer, Manning was the backup the last two seasons behind Quinn Ewers. He did earn two starts in 2024 after Ewers was out with an injury.
How did Arch Manning Compare to Peyton, Eli and Archie?
Manning was clearly frustrated by his performance against UTEP on September 13, despite the Longhorns winning 27-10. At one point, he threw 10 straight incompletions, which drew a chorus of boos from the Longhorns faithful in attendance.
“Saturday night was frustrating, but I know I’m better than that,” Manning told reporters.
Knowing the Manning legacy, many just assume they were great from the beginning and Arch is an anomaly. The Athletic’s Manny Navarro recently broke down how Manning compared to his family members in their first five starts. The Texas signal caller posts similar numbers to his uncles and grandfather.
All five Mannings were 4-1 in their first five starts. Arch is second in passing touchdowns to Eli’s 11 but has the most overall scores with 14. Archie leads the way in rushing yards with 226. The former Ole Miss legend also leads in interceptions (six), with his grandson just one behind him.
While Manning can lean on this and even Burrow’s early struggles, it’s the upward trajectory forward that he must battle. All of those players went on to have great careers that extended into the NFL.
Can Arch do the same?
Texas QB Arch Manning Draws Surprising Joe Burrow Comparison