Quarterbacks from Lone Star State SEC schools were a hot topic this weekend.
Texas A&M Aggies QB Marcel Reed let the world know who he is in a message sharing what his mother told him about dealing with hate. It was an inspiring message for the 12th Man to hear after a rough ending to the 2025/2026 CFP against the Miami Hurricanes. Reed threw two interceptions, fumbled the ball, and was sacked seven times -- obviously, that last one is not all his fault, but still -- against The U in a 10-3 loss.
Elsewhere, Texas Longhorns QB Arch Manning's quite-famous uncle, Peyton Manning, revealed that he'll be cheering for his nephew over his alma mater, the Tennessee Volunteers, when the two programs meet. Frankly, you can't fault his reasoning.
Here were some of the weekend's gridiron headlines from the "It Just Means More" conference to kick off your pre-Independence Day week:
Texas A&M's Marcel Reed on his doubters: 'I'm a quarterback'
“I’m a quarterback. They haven’t said that for a while,” Reed said. “I don’t really care what people say. My Mom always tells me, when somebody says something about me, she asks, ‘What’s your name?’ I say, ‘Marcel Reed.’ She says, ‘That’s who you are.’ So I don’t really care what anybody has to say. I’m not worried about it. I’m just worried about being me.”
Reed has the ultimate chance to silence the doubters in 2026. Though many expect the Aggies to make a run to the CFP, since they have one of the weaker schedules in the conference, doubts in Reed has practically everyone stopping short of predicting a meaningful run for Texas A&M.
From the sounds of it, Reed is taking a spiritual approach to his preparation for a pivotal year for his football career. He has enough play-making abilities with his legs to warrant NFL looks, but if he becomes more of a downfield threat, Reed can skyrocket into day two consideration for the 2027 draft.
Tennessee boots Chaz Coleman, Patrick Peterson tells me his thoughts on LSU
Peyton Manning is cheering for Arch over Tennessee
As Peyton Manning revealed at the Manning Passing Academy in Thibodeaux, Louisiana, this past weekend, his allegiance to his family is stronger than his bond with his alma mater, the University of Tennessee.
In fact, as Peyton revealed, that's simply what the Manning family has always done.
“One of the kids was asking me earlier who I was gonna go for. I said, ‘Who do you think?’ And of course, he said that he would go for his school over his relative and I went, ‘Well, you and I are different. You and I are wired differently," Manning said to SportsTalk 790's Chris Gordy.
“Nothing’s more important than your family. Obviously, it’s going to be a huge SEC game. My dad dealt with it when I was in college, when Tennessee played Ole Miss. I love my university and my alma mater and pull for them unconditionally, but nothing’s more important to me than my family. When you have a nephew playing, I pull very hard for him every single Saturday. That’s pretty much a no-brainer that you’re pulling for your nephew to play well.”
Archie Manning sticks up for Arch, Alabama lands No. 34 recruit in SC Next 300
They're not going to like that on Rocky Top, but you know what? That's a good message for the masses. Peyton should want Arch to follow in the footsteps of his father, Archie, as well as himself and his brother, Eli.
There's a reason that family has been on top and is looking to stay on top for more than half a century on the gridiron.
Add us as a preferred source on Google