QB Arch Manning will return to Texas in 2026 despite NFL Draft speculation
- - QB Arch Manning will return to Texas in 2026 despite NFL Draft speculation
Ryan YoungDecember 16, 2025 at 12:19 AM
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Arch Manning just finished his first season as a starter with the Longhorns, and will now run it back in 2026. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images) (Alex Slitz via Getty Images)
The Longhorns will have Arch Manning for another season.
Manning’s father, Cooper Manning, texted ESPN’s Dave Wilson on Monday night to confirm that he would be “playing football at Texas next year.” That had been the expectation for the Longhorns, though Manning could have declared for the NFL Draft or hit the transfer portal if he wanted to.
Manning led the Longhorns on a 6-1 run to end the season, which nearly got them into the College Football Playoff after a disappointing start to the year. Instead, they’ll now take on Michigan in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl later this month.
Manning finished this season, his first as a starter, with 2,942 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions, all but two of which came in the first five games of the year. He had eight rushing touchdowns, and completed better than 61% of his passes, too.
"He's a young man who's gotten better as the season's gone on, and not only physically, but mentally, maturity-wise," Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said on Monday, via ESPN. "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.
"We had a really good football season. We left some meat on the bone with an opportunity to be SEC champs, national champs, and so ultimately for him, I think the competitor in him is going to say, 'Man, I sure would like another crack at trying to do those things.'"
This post will be with more information shortly.
Source: “AOL Sports”
