Grating expectations

 So didja see what happened in Columbus, O., yesterday?

Arch Manning FAILED!

Took No. 1 Texas into Ohio Stadium and lost to the defending national champions, 14-7. Did not leap tall buildings in a single bound, or catch a speeding bullet in his teeth. Did not throw for 470 gazillion yards and five touchdowns and run for another 1,000 yards. FAILED!

Or so more than a few addled souls likely thought.

Truth is, Manning and Texas lost in a place where the Ohio State Buckeyes hardly ever lose -- especially when it's the first game of the season, and especially when they're (again) the defending national champions. This was hardly earth-shattering news. Heck,  even Lee Corso, in his last College Gameday, knew what was up, making Brutus Buckeye his final mascot-head donning.

And Manning?

Threw for 170 yards on 17-of-30 passing, with a touchdown and an interception. In his first start as the Longhorns' QB1, although he started a few games last season. Against a scheme new Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia dialed up to stop him.

So does that mean he, you know, FAILED?

Nah. It just means the people whose job it is to whip hype like meringue really went overboard this time.

Mainly this is because Arch's last name is Manning and his uncles are Peyton and Eli, and his granddad is Archie Manning, pater familias of the clan and a quarterbacking legend at Ole Miss. All of that is why people have been talking about Arch since he was a freshman  -- in high school. And when he turned out to be pretty damned good, fast and athletic and more the second coming of gramps than his uncles, some folks lost all ability to reason.

Said he was not just a talent, but a generational talent. Predicted he'd be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Handed him the Heisman before he'd ever taken a snap this season.

Now, he might yet make all of that come true. But it's ridiculous to say these things now about a sophomore who started all of two games last season as Quinn Ewer's backup. In those two games, he completed 41-of-60 passes for 583 yards, four touchdowns and two picks, and ran seven times for 32 yards and another score. 

But his first start was against overmatched Louisiana-Monroe. And his second start was against Mississippi State, which went 2-10 last season and gave up 26.6 points per game.

And so, great expectations at the moment are more grating expectations. Slow the roll.