## Archmania Begins: Finebaum Predicts Texas Upset Over Ohio State

College football's Week 1 slate is stacked with heavyweight matchups, but all eyes will be on Columbus when the No. 1 Texas Longhorns take on the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes on August 30th. The game, airing at noon ET on Fox, has already drawn ESPN's "College GameDay" for Lee Corso's farewell episode, cementing its status as a season opener for the ages.

But amidst the hype surrounding Arch Manning's arrival in Austin, pundits are divided. While Ohio State is favored by most sportsbooks, ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum is boldly predicting a Texas victory, setting the stage for "Archmania."

"He is going to win that first game (against Ohio State) on the biggest stage in college football this year," Finebaum declared during an appearance on ESPN's "Get Up."

Finebaum isn't alone in his confidence. He echoed this sentiment in July, stating:  “The experience of being an understudy to Ewers and understanding Sark’s system is what’s going to get them over the top and probably — well, not probably — definitely beat Ohio State in the opener.”

Ohio State, under Ryan Day's leadership, triumphed over Texas last season in the College Football Playoff Semifinals, crushing Quinn Ewers-led Longhorns 28-14. This year, despite Texas holding the edge in the preseason Coaches poll, most sportsbooks list Texas as a 2.5-point road underdog.

Finebaum believes this will be different. He predicts that Manning's experience and Steve Sarkisian's coaching will propel Texas to victory, sparking a nationwide frenzy.  “It’s going to go Archmania; it’s going to transcend the sport of college football,” Finebaum asserted.


This echoes the excitement surrounding Colorado last year under Deion Sanders. The Buffs' stunning upset over TCU in their season opener ignited national attention and captured the hearts of fans nationwide. Manning has a similar opportunity to become a cultural phenomenon, offering an alternative narrative in a world often focused on established powers.

Manning is already generating buzz, earning spots on multiple preseason award watchlists, including the Walter Camp National Player of the Year, Maxwell Award, Davey O'Brien Award, and Sporting News' Preseason All-America Team. He even boasts +700 odds to win the Heisman Trophy (FanDuel).

The road ahead won't be easy for Texas. Beyond Ohio State, they face a gauntlet of tough opponents, including Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, and potentially an SEC Championship appearance. But if Finebaum is right, this season will be about Arch Manning. It's about the rise of Texas. It's about "Archmania."


 


## Archmania Begins: Finebaum Predicts Texas Upset Over Ohio State

College football's Week 1 slate is stacked with heavyweight matchups, but all eyes will be o

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Paul Finebaum Predicts College Football Upset to Open the Season