Exclusive: Former Super Bowl MVP Desmond Howard Questions the Heisman Hype Surrounding Arch Manning

Desmond Howard says Arch Manning needs to be better than what he was in the season opener against the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Season Opener Disappointment

The Texas Longhorns lost their season opener against the Buckeyes, falling 14-7 in a game that was defensive-oriented and not very clean on the offensive end. 

The Heisman Trophy favorite entered with high expectations, but ended the day with a dud on 17-for-30 passing for 170 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception.

The Longhorns were also stopped twice in the red zone, including twice inside the 10-yard line. That proved to be the difference in their loss to the Buckeyes.

The former Heisman Trophy winner and "ESPN Gameday" analyst details why there was too much hype surrounding Manning entering the season opener.

Heisman Hype Questioned

"I don't like people talking about players at the beginning of the season as if they're legitimate Heisman candidates unless they were finalists the year before," Howard told SportsBoom.com in a one-on-one interview. 

"Unless you're on stage as a finalist in 2024, I don't need people talking about this person should be the Heisman front runner. I thought that the hype around Arch Manning was not warranted whatsoever. That's the point I made (last) Friday on First Take, and then he went out against Ohio State and proved me right."

Howard says you judge big-time players based upon what they do in big-time games. Manning's game against Ohio State was one of those measuring stick type of games.

 "When I say he went out against Ohio State and proved me right, it kind of goes back to that same mindset that I mentioned earlier when I talk about how I judge these teams, judge Heisman Trophy candidates by what you do in the big games," says Howard. 

"If he was a legitimate candidate, for me, he would have had to have gone out there and performed on that big stage."

"Because when you talk Heisman, you're talking about the best of the best of the best in the sport," Howard continues to say. 

"You're not saying he's the guy who should win the Davey O'Brien award, the Johnny Unitas award. That's a different conversation. You're talking about he's a guy who should be mentioned in the Heisman conversation. That's when it starts in a big game like that."

Lessons from Personal Experience

Howard compares it to his own collegiate career, saying he didn't pop on anyone's radar until he had a big game against a big-time opponent in the Notre Dame Fighting Irish when he scored two touchdowns.

"I hit everybody's radar, I had a big game against Notre Dame, and I scored two touchdowns against Notre Dame," says Howard. 

"Crazy as it sounds, the week before, I scored four touchdowns against Boston College. Nobody was talking about me. What they were doing, they're constantly saying Arch Manning Heisman candidate. You're playing that seed in everybody's head. Then everything he does moving forward becomes Heisman worthy."

"Whoever he plays, he can play McNeese State and then they're going to show him on Sportscenter scoring four touchdowns and they present 'Heisman hopeful, Heisman this, Heisman that, Arch Manning did X, Y and Z,'" Howard continued. 

"I can show you hundreds of other players who probably scored four touchdowns that same weekend. I'm saying you've already planted that seed that this is a Heisman hopeful or Heisman whatever, Arch Manning, then that's what people start to believe and that's how they see him."

Expectations vs. Reality

Manning is obviously entering his first full season as the starting quarterback after having played the role of backup to Quinn Ewers over the past two seasons. Although he had only started two games prior to this season, Howard still believes the 21-year-old junior should have been better against the Buckeyes. 

"I would say that if he was like first year, even in his second year, (but) this guy's in his third year in the system," says Howard of Manning on if the expectations were too high. 

"Guys don't even reach three years in college football no more. He's like the old vet there. It's not like he's been a starter for three years, but he's been in the system for three years, and he's been around them in big games. Obviously the expectations were lofty, but it comes with that name, and it comes with that position, and it's something that everybody just accepted."

The Longhorns won't play in another big game until their rivalry matchup with the Oklahoma Sooners in October. They'll also take on the Georgia Bulldogs in November before finishing the season against the Texas A&M Aggies.

Howard says that Manning does need to be better in those games considering he's regarded as the top player in the country.

"I don't know how many big games they get, but I have to see," says Howard. 

"I don't know their schedule by heart, but I would hope that he will play better than he played against Ohio State in these big games, absolutely. If you judge the Longhorns by what happened Saturday, it's going to be a long season for the Longhorns."