Texas A&M’s quarterback picture could be headed for a major shake-up, and that uncertainty has now put a familiar name in the conversation.
With redshirt junior Marcel Reed trending the wrong way and backup Brady Hart apparently not ready to step into the job this season or in 2027, Mike Elko may be forced to go shopping for a proven quarterback through the transfer portal. If that happens, the price tag figures to be steep.
There are already a few names worth tracking. Alabama backup Austin Mack and Oregon State quarterback Brandon Atkenson are among the possibilities drawing attention from multiple Power Four programs that need help under center.
But the more eye-catching name in the discussion is Texas quarterback Arch Manning.
The Longhorns’ season has taken a sharp turn, with back-to-back SEC losses to unranked Oklahoma and Florida. Manning struggled in both games, including a 173-yard, one-touchdown performance against Florida’s vulnerable secondary.
On "That SEC Podcast," hosts Michael Bratton and Cousin Shane floated several programs that could chase the former five-star prospect if Texas misses the College Football Playoff for the second straight year and potentially parts ways with Steve Sarkisian. Texas A&M was on that list.
Manning has the arm talent to work in College Station, but the issue at Texas has been bigger than one player. Sarkisian’s stubborn play-calling and poor protection up front have helped fuel the slide, and the result has been a surprising losing streak.
Still, a move to Texas A&M feels like a long shot. If Manning does hit the portal, Oklahoma, LSU, Ole Miss - where his grandfather and uncle played - South Carolina and Tennessee are also expected to be in the mix. Like former Texas A&M quarterback and Houston Cougars star Conner Weigman, Manning could also benefit from a fresh start in the NFL.
In Other News...
Lane Kiffin Made A Serious Auburn Accusation After LSU Win
The aftermath of LSUs win at Auburn carried an extra layer of scrutiny after Lane Kiffin said he believed Tigers defenders were trying to use a hip-drop tackle on LSU tight end TreyDez Green. Green, who had just returned from a lower-body injury, was active throughout the game and made his presence felt with five catches for 50 yards and a touchdown, but the contact he absorbed clearly became part of the story once the game was over.
Hip-drop tackles have already been banned by the NFL because of the injury risk involved, which is why Kiffins comment drew immediate attention beyond the usual postgame noise. Greens workload tapered off late, and the concern around his usage added another wrinkle to a physical night in Auburn that LSU was happy to survive, even if the conversation afterward drifted well past the final score. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffin Just Dragged Auburn Into A Bigger Postgame Debate
Lane Kiffin turned a routine postgame conversation into something bigger when he singled out Auburns defenders for using hip-drop tackles against LSU tight end Treyd ez Green. Green was taken out of the game amid concerns about those tackles, a technique still not banned in college football, and Kiffins comments pushed the focus beyond the final score and into the way the game was being played.
The more interesting part for Auburn is how Kiffin framed the late-game choices from his own sideline, too. He said he put starting defenders back in despite the injury risk, pointing to player requests and the kind of mentality he wanted from his team, which only added another layer to the debate over where toughness ends and unnecessary danger begins. [Read more 🡒]
Auburns LSU Collapse Put One Alex Golesh Question Front And Center
Alex Golesh didnt try to soften the blow after Auburns 38-17 loss to LSU, putting the offensive problems squarely on his own shoulders. He said the game plan wasnt effective and pointed to missed tackles on defense as part of a night in which Auburn gave up 552 total yards while finishing with just 271 of its own.
The broader concern now is whether the Tigers can clean up enough in a hurry before a road trip to Ole Miss. Auburn managed only 67 rushing yards against LSU, and Golesh made it clear the fix has to come through better strategy and sharper execution, two things the Tigers will need if they want to avoid another lopsided result. [Read more 🡒]