Arch Manning is one of the most hyped prospects in recent history, thanks to his physical talent and family history as the nephew of legendary quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning.
While the way-too-early expectation for many years was that he would have declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, he redshirted his first year and decided to return to college after his first year as a starter. Now all signs point to him declaring for the 2027 NFL Draft; however, there is no guarantee that will happen.
Steve Sarkisian Hints That Arch Manning Could Stay in College Longer than Expected
Steve Sarkisian, the head coach of the Texas Longhorns, appeared on the “Up and Adams Show” and was asked about Manning’s future and whether he could potentially return after the 2026 season.
“I would not be surprised, I think Arch really loves college football,” said Sarkisian. “I think he loves the University of Texas, you know, he does pretty good through NIL, he’s got some pretty good endorsements going right now, which is a credit to him, and obviously the lineage of the last name and the brand of the University of Texas.”
Manning ranked No. 37 in PFSN’s College QB Impact (QBi) metric in his first full season as a starter at Texas. In his sophomore season in 2025, Manning completed 61.4% of his passes for 3,163 yards, 26 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, while also adding 399 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.
“I wouldn’t be surprised.” 👀
Steve Sarkisian on Arch Manning potentially returning to the Longhorns after the 2026 season@heykayadams | @TexasFootball pic.twitter.com/YfLx192DEH
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) June 15, 2026
At 22 years old, Manning has plenty of room to grow, and while he can still improve on several aspects of his game, he showed signs of the quarterback he could become at the NFL level.
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“On the same token, I won’t be surprised if he declares and decides to go to the Draft,” Sarkisian added.
Standing at 6′ 4″, 219 lbs., Manning possesses the physical makeup of a professional quarterback. Combine that with his ability to beat a defense not only with his arm but also with his legs, and the family lineage of his grandfather, Archie Manning, and his uncles, Eli and Peyton Manning, it’s easy to see why teams and scouts are so enamored with his potential.
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However, while it’s easy to say that declaring for the NFL is the no-brainer decision, multiple factors are at play that could impact Manning’s decision on what he does in 2027.
“Some of that is dependent upon how we play as a team this fall, how he plays individually, knock on wood, injury-free football,” Sarkisian added. “We haven’t really had a dialogue about it, but I wouldn’t be surprised.”
What the talented quarterback ends up choosing to do after the 2026 College Football season remains to be seen. But, in the meantime, he figures to be one of, if not the most discussed and monitored player in College Football throughout the season, and leading up to the 2027 NFL Draft.
Teams looking for their next franchise quarterback, such as the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, and others, will be sure to do their homework on Manning throughout the season, as they anxiously await his decision on his future.