Speculation has followed Arch Manning since the moment he stepped onto campus in Austin, but for now, the Texas Longhorns quarterback appears content to stay right where he is.
According to Fox News, after months of draft chatter and mounting expectations, multiple reports indicate Manning has decided to remain at Texas through the 2026 season rather than declaring early for the NFL.
The decision was quietly confirmed by his father, Cooper Manning, in a brief message shared with ESPN.
“Arch is playing football at Texas next year,” Manning wrote.
The update settles a question that has hovered over the program all season, particularly as Manning’s profile continued to rise and NFL analysts began projecting him as a potential top overall draft pick.
Despite that attention, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian suggested the quarterback’s development is far from finished.
“He’s a young man who’s gotten better as the season’s gone on, and not only physically, but mentally, maturity-wise,” Sarkisian told reporters during a pre-Citrus Bowl media event. “I would think he’s going to want another year of that growth to put himself in position for hopefully a long career in the NFL. And he’s got some unfinished business of what he came here to do and what he came here to accomplish.”
Manning himself has not publicly confirmed his plans, instead keeping his focus on the immediate task ahead. The Longhorns are preparing to face Michigan on Dec. 31, and the quarterback has avoided adding to the conversation surrounding his long-term future.
The uncertainty intensified earlier this year when Archie Manning, Arch’s grandfather, told reporters in August that he expected his grandson to enter the NFL Draft following his redshirt sophomore season. The comment sparked a wave of speculation that Arch later worked to dial back.
On the field, the 2025 season proved uneven for both Manning and the Longhorns. Texas opened the year ranked No. 1 in the country but struggled to meet expectations early.
A seven-point loss to Ohio State was followed by an eight-point defeat at the hands of Florida.
The setbacks continued with a lopsided loss to Georgia before the Longhorns closed the regular season on a high note, upsetting rival Texas A&M.
Individually, Manning delivered a solid statistical campaign amid the turbulence. He threw for 2,942 yards and 24 touchdowns while adding another dimension as a runner, totaling 244 rushing yards and eight scores on the ground.
For now, the next chapter of Arch Manning’s football story will remain in Austin, with at least one more season to finish what he started in burnt orange.
