Arch Manning might not leave for the NFL after this season...
Will Arch Manning Stay Another Year at Texas? NFL Scout Circles Possible Loaded Draft Class originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Arch Manning is gearing up for his first full season as the Texas Longhorns’ starting quarterback after redshirting his freshman year and backing up Quinn Ewers in 2024.
Despite limited playing time, the No. 1 recruit in the 2023 high school class (247Sports) already has two college starts under his belt. When Ewers was sidelined with an oblique injury, Manning threw for 258 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in a 51–3 win over Louisiana Monroe. He followed that performance with 325 passing yards and two touchdowns in a 35–13 win over Mississippi State.
Manning's talent was on full display in those two starts — and even in short-yardage packages in other games throughout the season. It’s undeniable, and many mock drafts already project him as a top-three pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
But with three seasons of eligibility, including this upcoming one, would Manning return to Texas in 2026 or even beyond then?
The Manning Family Has Already Shared How Long They Want Arch Manning to Stay at Texas
Prior to the Louisiana Monroe game, there were calls for Manning to start over Ewers — despite Ewers leading the Longhorns to the College Football Playoff semifinal in 2023 and a 3-0 start in 2024 up to that point. With Ewers already ruled out for the Louisiana Monroe game, the conversation shifted: if Manning were to shine, why go back to Ewers?
On ESPN's "College GameDay," Pat McAfee revealed he reached out to the Manning family to get their take on the situation.
"I actually reached out to the Manning operation to get their take on the entire situation because the reality is, against this Louisiana Monroe team, if Arch Manning throws for five touchdowns and runs 20 miles an hour plus again today, the fastest Manning in history, there's going to be calls for him to get on the field," McAfee said. "The Manning family said, though, no, no, no. They are old school. You never lose a job because of an injury. Arch Manning wants to be in the program for four years. He wants to develop. There's no rush to get to the NFL."
The 2027 NFL Draft Class Could Be ‘One of the Best Ever’
If the 21-year-old stays at Texas for another season to follow his family’s four-year tradition — like his uncles Peyton at Tennessee and Eli at Ole Miss — the 2027 NFL Draft class is shaping up to be "‘"one of the best ever."’"
On3’s Hayes Fawcett recently took a look at the draft-eligible players for 2027, adding, “Scouts are already drooling over the 2027 NFL Draft class … it could rival some of the all-time greats if top prospects like Arch Manning, Jeremiah Smith and Ryan Williams stay on track.”
Here are some of the potential big names for 2027:
- Texas linebacker Colin Simmons
- South Carolina linebacker Dylan Stewart
- Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith
- Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams
- Auburn wide receiver Cam Coleman
- Clemson wide receiver TJ Moore
- Florida quarterback DJ Lagway
- Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin
- Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola
- Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore
- Georgia safety KJ Bolden
- Minnesota safety Koi Perich
- Colorado offensive tackle Jordan Seaton
As Manning said in January, he thinks he gets a lot of "underserved attention" because of his name "but hopefully it gets more deserving in the next few months" as Texas' full-time starting quarterback now.
Manning and the Longhorns will open the season on Aug. 30 in a rematch of January's CFP semifinal. Texas will hit the road for a showdown against Ohio State, with kickoff scheduled for noon ET on Fox.
Related: Arch Manning Clip at Texas Spring Practice Turns Heads
Related: ESPN Circles One Game For Georgia This Season—And It’s Not Alabama or Texas
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
