College Football HQ

"Not the flex": Danny Kanell calls out Texas over Arch Manning claim

College football analyst Danny Kanell was not feeling Texas' recent message about Arch Manning.
Jonathan Adams|
Sep 20, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) runs in for a touchdown past Sam Houston Bearkats linebacker Antivirus Fish (6) during the first half at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
Sep 20, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) runs in for a touchdown past Sam Houston Bearkats linebacker Antivirus Fish (6) during the first half at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

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Texas LonghornsSam Houston State Bearkats

Texas quarterback Arch Manning posted his best performance of the young college football season during the Longhorns' 55-0 victory over Sam Houston in Week 4. Yet, not everyone is feeling confident about Manning.

Texas posted a video of a touchdown run by Manning that showed the quarterback standing over a Sam Houston defender after the score.

"We told y'all @archmanning got swagger," Texas' official X account posted on Saturday.

This led to a cheeky response from CBS Sports' analyst Danny Kanell. The former Florida State quarterback clearly did not appreciate the star showing up an inferior opponent.

"This is not the flex you think it is," Kanell said quote tweeting the video.

Let's dive into why fans and media members alike are divided on Manning through the first month of the college football season.

Arch Manning has struggled to perform against Texas' top opponents

It is early, but a narrative is starting to form about Manning. The Texas quarterback has struggled against Texas' top opponents and taken advantage of some of the weaker teams on the Longhorns' schedule.

But the good news is Manning is about to have plenty of opportunities to prove people wrong as Texas enters the meat of its SEC schedule. Manning faces much more challenging defenses as Texas prepares for Florida and Oklahoma in its next two games.

Texas QB Arch Manning had breakout performance vs. Sam Houston

Regardless of the competition, it still bodes well that Manning had a strong performance as the Longhorns begin conference play. Manning completed 18-of-21 passes for 309 yards and three touchdowns versus Sam Houston.

The Texas quarterback added 11 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Manning has been a polarizing figure, given that the quarterback entered the college football season with a tremendous amount of hype.

Many NFL mocks projected Manning as the favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft. Time will tell if Manning will be able to eventually live up to this hype.

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Jonathan Adams
JONATHAN ADAMS

Jonathan Adams is a veteran sports writer who has written for notable outlets and interviewed some of the top athletes for more than 10 years. Since 2015, his sports coverage has been read by tens of millions and has been prominently featured on Heavy, NFL.com, Yahoo Sports, Pro Football Talk, CBS Sports, Bleacher Report and more. Jonathan is a member of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and a voter for the Maxwell Award and Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year. He has interviewed many of the biggest stars in sports — Bryce Harper, Jayden Daniels, Justin Jefferson, Bijan Robinson and Micah Parsons to name a few — and has traveled the country to cover the College Football Playoff, NFL draft, Masters, March Madness, Senior Bowl, McDonald’s All-American Game and beyond. Jonathan Adams studied at the University of Central Florida and The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology. He holds master degrees in sport business management, business administration and theology & culture.

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