Texas quarterback Arch Manning will return to the Longhorns for the next season, ending speculation that he would enter the 2026 NFL Draft, his father confirmed. Cooper Manning announced that his son will continue his college career in Austin, cementing plans for a fourth season with the Longhorns.
Manning, 21, had been considered a top quarterback prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft, with some scouts projecting him as a potential first overall pick. Instead, he will stay at Texas, where he has steadily developed since his freshman year in 2023, when he appeared in two games. This past season, he started twice in 10 appearances, completing 61.4% of his passes for 2,942 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, while also rushing for 244 yards and eight scores. Over his final seven games, Manning threw only two interceptions, showing improved consistency. He will be joined on the Longhorns’ roster by quarterbacks Karle Lacey Jr. and five-star freshman Dia Bell, who has expressed excitement about learning from Manning.
Manning, the nephew of former NFL stars Peyton and Eli Manning, was the top high school prospect in 2023 and is now viewed as a leading candidate for the 2027 NFL Draft. Other top quarterback prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft include Oregon’s Dante Moore, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, Alabama’s Ty Simpson, and LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier. Teams projected to hold the first five picks in that draft include the New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, and New York Jets. Manning and the 9-3 Longhorns are set to face the 9-3 Michigan Wolverines in the Citrus Bowl on December 31 in Orlando, Florida.