Speculation about Arch Manning‘s future has come to an end. The oft-discussed quarterback will remain at Texas for the 2026 season, as first reported by Chip Brown of Horn247.com. 
Cooper Manning has since confirmed the news about his son, which ensures one of the top QB prospects in the 2026 class will not be turning pro. Since the start of the season, questions have been raised about Arch Manning and whether or not he would declare after only one year as the Longhorns’ starter. His status has been at the center of overall speculation concerning a 2026 class which has fallen short of expectations.
Early in the 2025 campaign in particular, Manning’s performances led to a perceived dip in his draft stock. Things improved during the second half of the season, though, as Texas went 6-1 down the stretch. That was not sufficient to secure a spot in the College Football Playoff, but Manning’s play improved over that period. Earlier this month, it was reported multiple NFL evaluators still viewed him as the top signal-caller potentially available in April’s draft.
“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 (via ESPN’s Andrea Adelson). “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.”
Indeed, Manning will suit up in 2026 for his redshirt junior season. Texas reached the CFP semifinals last year with Quinn Ewers under center, but this season did not produce the same level of success. Especially if Manning can deliver a strong performance during his second straight campaign as the Longhorns’ starter, he will be among the top passers in the 2027 NFL class. Of course, the same is also true of LaNorris Sellers, who recently committed to staying at South Carolina for next season.
That means attention regarding the incoming QB class will increasingly turn to the likes of Dante Moore (Oregon) and Ty Simpson (Alabama). It remains to be seen if one or both of them will turn pro after their respective seasons end, while Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza is on course to be a first-round lock (and quite possibly the No. 1 pick). Intrigue will no doubt continue to surround the passers available to NFL teams in April, but that group will not include Manning.
Much to the dismay of the New York Football Giants, who’ll need a new QB1 when Jaxson Dart is forced into early retirement with endless concussions.
You think about the Giants 24/7, don’t you?
Sadly I think your right …. Giants rushed him and provided him NO protection …foolish
That’s actually incorrect. The giants for the first time in basically a decade have a serviceable to above average offensive line. All the advanced metrics will point this out.
In fairness, the Jets look like their whole squad are playing with concussions
Staying healthy will be key and if he has a monster 2026 season, he might be in position to dictate where he goes. Perennial bad teams or teams dogging it to get him better beware.
Good to know now. The Browns will have to tank another year.
Isn’t that what they’ve been doing for the past 30 years
There was that one year they accidentally backed into the playoffs (and subsequently dumped the QB who got them there).
Bernie Kosar?
Wasnt Kosar, he got them to five consecutive postseasons and three AFC Championship games when they were the BROWNS, not some expansion team with jersies that looked the same.
They didn’t back into the playoffs. They had the 2nd best record in the AFC and that’s after sitting all their starters in the last game. Flacco didn’t get them to the playoffs. He just kept them there
Browns aren’t tanking….
That’s right. They don’t need to tank. They are just naturally inept and awful
After watching him struggle against my ‘Dawgs he definitely needs that additional year of experience. Moore & Simpson could probably use another as well.
TaNk FOr ArCH!! Idiots
a surprise to absolutely nobody. he looked lost half the season
Smart move. No QB prospects wants to go to the Raiders or Jets…both owners should sell those teams
Bad teams draft early. Same thing will happen next year.
There are bad teams and then there are bad teams with even worse owners. The latter are worse.
Smart. Smart. Smart.
Overrated
He needs another year
Of course he’s staying. His ego couldn’t handle a 3rd round selection
If I were him and his agent, I’d closely monitor how the NY Jets do a year from now given how they’re a dumpster fire and whatnot, he has 2 yrs of college eligibility remaining after this year. I’m sure he’ll want to avoid the jets and that crap franchise
Good choice. Better another year in college than a 3rd round QB going to Cleveland.
Folks, let me tell you, Arch Manning deciding to come back to Texas instead of rushing into the NFL Draft is a tremendous move—really smart, very savvy. Everyone’s talking about it. Texas is winning again, the program is strong, the fans are incredible, and Arch knows a good deal when he sees one. He’s got the name, he’s got the talent, and now he’s got the patience—something a lot of people don’t have, believe me. Staying in Austin, getting better, leading the Longhorns, that’s how you build a legacy, that’s how you become a winner. The NFL will be there, trust me, but right now Texas is hotter than ever, and Arch made a beautiful decision. Just beautiful.
Arch Manning is neither ready physically nor as a player for the NFL. He’d be eaten and torn to shreds by the hits. He’d be perplexed and hopeless as a QB for a couple of seasons.
Why on earth would Manning want to follow Trey Lance’s path?
The best thing Manning can do for himself is go back and improve his skills at a far easier game level. Glad his relations could talk sense in to him.
It’s a much easier decision to go back these days…
Archie is already a Multi-Millionaire just based on his own earnings in College and will likely pull down $5m plus next year in College.
Sure it pales to what he will get in the NFL, but worst case scenario is he plays 4 years of college and will have earned enough to live off his investments for the rest of his life…assuming they are invested wisely and no doubt he will have folks guiding him on how to do that.
In the past when college kids did not make 7 figures or anywhere close, they had to take the money when it was there in the NFL because an injury could mean a lifetime of working 8-5 like a normal person