Eli Manning was really going through it during Thursday night’s CFP game.
The retired former Pro Bowl quarterback Manning was in attendance for Thursday’s CFP semifinal between Ole Miss and Miami at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Manning, who played his college ball at Ole Miss from 2000-03, also served as an honorary captain for the game.
Multiple times throughout the contest, the ESPN broadcast cut to Manning in the luxury box looking extremely stressed at the up-and-down roller coaster of a game. Take a look.
How are we feelin' Ole Miss fans? pic.twitter.com/lUe3xvoAQK
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) January 9, 2026
Uptight Eli then quickly became a meme over social media. Many fans found it quite relatable how deeply invested Manning was in his favorite team’s success.
Eli Manning is me and I am him. Clutching any and everything on every play. pic.twitter.com/q3m0p3n3Qa
— Brandi Ratliff (@SouthrnGrlRebel) January 9, 2026
Eli Manning on the Giants didn’t look as stressed as he does with Ole Miss against Miami pic.twitter.com/O5FRF1CgZL
— Mannie. (@PremierVee) January 9, 2026
Eli look like your uncle with $50 on the game pic.twitter.com/CHgA1aawX0
— br_betting (@br_betting) January 9, 2026
Eli Manning we feel your stress
— Barstool Ole Miss (@BarstoolOleMiss) January 9, 2026
Unfortunately for Manning, he walked away disappointed after Thursday’s game. Ole Miss lost to Miami by a final score of 31-27 after Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck scored one of the latest touchdowns in CFP history to give his team the lead.
The two-time Super Bowl MVP Manning has been a great ambassador for his alma mater and even had a great post to social media about the Lane Kiffin saga last month. But he wasn’t enough to carry Ole Miss to victory in the CFP semifinal as it will instead be Miami who gets to play the winner of Indiana and Oregon for a shot at the national championship later this month.
