The ESPN college football analyst had jokes at SEC Media Days.
Paul Finebaum Has Three Words for Arch Manning After Interaction With Another SEC QB originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Paul Finebaum had quite the memorable encounter at SEC Media Days, first shaking hands with Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning on Wednesday and later calling the brief interaction “truly one of the most remarkable moments of my life.”
It was a playful moment captured live, leaving Finebaum's ESPN co-host Heather Dinich joking that he might never wash that hand again. But things took a humorous turn when Finebaum found himself shaking hands yet again—this time with Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer.
Mateer, who transferred into Oklahoma amid great fanfare as On3's No. 3 ranked transfer portal player, brings high hopes and legitimate Heisman expectations. The Sooners' newest quarterback is set to lead the team's offense, with many believing he can catapult them back into national championship contention.
Mateer’s collegiate journey, which began at Washington State and saw the 21-year-old backing up Cam Ward in 2023, has drawn considerable attention, making him one of the SEC’s most closely watched new additions.
Last season for the Cougars, Mateer passed for 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also ran for 826 yards and scored 15 rushing touchdowns.
Don't look, Arch! 🤝🤠🫣 https://t.co/sjx1v0pWHlpic.twitter.com/cl1mHEGJFd
— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) July 16, 2025
After shaking Mateer's hand, Finebaum couldn't resist having some fun at Arch Manning's expense. The analyst took to social media platform X to cheekily send Manning a playful message, posting a photo of the handshake with the caption, “Don’t look, Arch!”
The humor wasn't lost on fans, as the tweet quickly gained traction, playing perfectly into the jovial and spirited rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma.
But beyond the laughter, Finebaum's playful interaction underscores the significant expectations placed on Manning this season.
Finebaum has openly declared Manning as potentially the best quarterback to emerge in college football since the legendary Tim Tebow, going so far as to predict that Texas would defeat Ohio State in their much-anticipated season opener.
While Mateer's handshake might have given Finebaum another playful fanboy moment, the focus undoubtedly remains on Manning.
Despite limited playing time, Arch Manning has rapidly become the face of Texas football, with massive expectations on his shoulders. Finebaum’s high praise and playful antics serve as reminders of just how brightly Manning's star shines heading into this pivotal season.
Related: Paul Finebaum Hilariously Claps Back at Jordan Rodgers Over Comments About Arch Manning
Related: Paul Finebaum Makes Stance Clear on Nick Saban’s Rumored College Football Return
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
