QB Arch Manning’s Shocking Texas Commitment in 2026 Leaves NFL Draft Rumors in the Dust

Well, it looks like Arch Manning is sticking around Austin a bit longer — the young quarterback’s got another season to make his mark with the Longhorns. Word came straight from his dad, Cooper Manning, confirming to ESPN’s Dave Wilson that Arch will indeed be back in the saddle next year. Texas insiders weren’t exactly caught off guard; in fact, this had been the quiet buzz for a while. Of course, the NFL Draft or transfer portal were tempting detours for a talent like him, but Arch’s decision to stay speaks volumes about unfinished business and the hunger to chase bigger dreams. After a bit of a shaky start this season, Manning rallied impressively down the stretch—putting the Longhorns in the playoff conversation and setting himself up for a second go-around with a ton more confidence . It’s shaping up to be an intriguing chapter in his college journey, and I’m all eyes on what’s next for this rising star. LEARN MORE.

The Longhorns will have Arch Manning for another season.

Manning’s father, Cooper Manning, told ESPN’s Dave Wilson on Monday night that his son would be “playing football at Texas next year.” That had long been the expectation from Texas officials, though Manning could have declared for the NFL Draft or hit the transfer portal if he wanted to.

Though it was a rough start to the season for the Longhorns, who started out as the No. 1 team in the country, Manning led the team on a 6-1 run to end the campaign. That nearly got them into the College Football Playoff, especially after an upset win over Texas A&M in their final game of the regular season.

Instead, after going 9-3 on the year, No. 13 Texas will take on Michigan in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl later this month.

Manning finished this season, his first as a starter after redshirting his first year and then backing up Quinn Ewers last year, with 2,942 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. All but two of those interceptions came in the first five games of the year. He had eight rushing touchdowns, too, and completed better than 61% of his passes.

“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.'”

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Though he has undoubtedly proven himself as a strong NFL prospect already, Manning will get at least one more opportunity with the Longhorns. With one season now in the books, save for the bowl game in Orlando on Dec. 31, he should be in a much more confident position for the beginning of his second run as a starting quarterback in Austin next fall.