Sports

Texas ‘Won’t Be Surprised’ If Arch Manning Rejects Family Tradition To Embrace Bad Football

by Last Updated

iStockphoto / Scott Wachter-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images


Arch Manning will return to Austin for the 2026 college football season with the Texas Longhorns. The future beyond his redshirt junior campaign is unclear.

The quarterback still has two years of play remaining. Family tradition suggests he’ll exhaust all of his eligibility before entering the NFL Draft. Head coach Steve Sarkisian won’t be surprised if Manning bucks the trend.

He is 50/50 on his passer’s professional outlook. He would welcome him back for the 2027 season, but he won’t blame him if he decides to move on.

When will Arch Manning enter the NFL Draft?

The question was posed by Kay Adams during a recent interview session with the Texas head coach. Here’s what Sarkisian said:

“We haven’t had the discussion,” the coach replied. “I would not be surprised (if he returns). Arch really loves college football. He loves the University of Texas. He does pretty good through NIL… but in the same token, I won’t be surprised if he declares and decides to go to the draft.”

History tells us that Arch Manning will play football for the Texas Longhorns in 2027. Each of his high-profile relatives have walked the same path.

Grandpa, Archie, played all four seasons at Ole Miss with the first coming as a member of the freshman team. He exhausted all of his eligibility before leaving for the NFL, where he became the second overall pick.

Uncle, Peyton, did the same at Tennessee. He started four seasons in Knoxville. Despite having a chance to declare as a junior, he opted to return for his senior year.

Finally, Eli Manning took advantage of his five-year window at Ole Miss. The quarterback redshirted as a freshman before playing four seasons. Only after his senior year did he move onto the NFL.

All three were first round picks. Eli and Peyton were first overall selections. Arch Manning could follow suit.

If he continues the family trend, he will play college football for two more years. If not, he puts himself on the fast track to join a bad football team.

Rookie QBs struggle in the NFL.

The Manning family has found that out firsthand. Peyton Manning led the NFL in interceptions as a rookie signal caller with the Colts and lost 13 of his 16 contests.

Eli Manning went 1-6 as a starter with six touchdowns and nine picks. Archie Manning had the most first-year success in terms of record, going 3-5-2 while being sacked a league-leading 40 times.

If things go according to plan, Arch will be drafted by a bad football team. That probably means he’s a top selection, much like his relatives. It would also make the odds of immediate pro success less likely.

The Mannings are a combined 7-24-2 as rookies. That could be the reason why the family is pushing for him to stay in college as long as possible.

Archie Manning quieted draft rumors last season with NFL teams supposedly tanking for his grandson. His dad, Cooper, sees no reason to rush off campus.

“If you’re lucky enough to play college football, why in the heck would you want to do something else? I think they’re going to have to run him out of there.”

-Cooper Manning

That all leads me to believe Arch Manning will be at the University of Texas for two more seasons, but there are two ways to look at it.

Stay in college two more, likely successful, years while chasing a championship. Or leave after 2026, embrace the suck, get paid, and get the rookie struggles out of the way early.

Steve Sarkisian won’t be blindsided by either.