The 2026 college football season is just around the corner. Last year, Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning came into the year touted as the greatest college quarterback since Tim Tebow despite having never started for a full season.
Unfortunately for Manning and the Longhorns, he never quite lived up to the expectation, although he did improve significantly as the season went on. As he enters his senior season, Manning might not have the same sort of hype train, but he’s still recognized as one of the most talented players at the position and is widely expected to go in the first round of the 2027 NFL Draft.
Despite his talent and last name, one prominent college football analyst isn’t expecting him to be the face of college football this season.
“I think, by the way, that the face of the sport going into the season as much as people are going to talk about Arch Manning, I really think Trinidad Chambliss at Ole Miss,” ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit said in an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.
Kirk Herbstreit believes Trinidad Chambliss is the face of college football, nor Arch Manning.
via @PatMcAfeeShow pic.twitter.com/Sf1UBZ9zGD
— Brad Logan (@BradLoganTOC) August 5, 2026
“He is so refreshing when you get around this guy. You guys should have him on the show before the season starts, if you haven’t had him on yet, you’ll instantly fall in love with his personality.”
Chambliss was one of the most impressive quarterbacks in 2025. He completed 66.1% of his passes for the Ole Miss Rebels for 3,937 yards, threw 22 touchdowns and recorded just three interceptions.
The Rebels ultimately fell in the College Football Playoff in the Fiesta Bowl to the Miami Hurricanes, but if Chambliss can replicate his production from last year, they may just have an outside shot of going the distance this year.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.