Arch Manning’s trip back to Louisiana on Saturday brings the Manning name into familiar territory, but not in the way LSU fans might want.
Texas’ visit to LSU has plenty riding on it, yet the storyline around the game reaches well beyond the standings. Manning is returning to the state where his family built its football reputation, from New Orleans to the SEC stage, and this matchup puts that legacy back in the spotlight.
The family thread starts at Isidore Newman School in New Orleans, where Manning, Peyton Manning and Eli Manning all launched their careers before heading to major SEC programs. Peyton set Newman’s passing touchdowns mark with 93, and Eli owned the school’s passing yards record at 7,389. Both were honored in June with induction into the New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame.
Those numbers eventually fell to Arch Manning, who closed his high school career with 8,539 passing yards and 115 touchdowns. That run turned him into a national name and the No. 1 overall high school recruit of 2023.
The football roots in Louisiana go even deeper through Archie Manning, Arch’s grandfather. Archie played quarterback at Ole Miss, won the 1969 SEC Player of the Year award and was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 1971. He spent 11 years with the franchise and became one of the most recognizable figures in the state’s football history.
Even though the Saints struggled during his time there, Archie Manning became a fan favorite and one of the few bright spots on the roster. His standing in New Orleans helped make him the inaugural inductee to the Saints Hall of Fame, and he was also inducted into the Saints Ring of Honor. He finished his career with two Pro Bowl selections and an NFC Offensive Player of the Year award.
Arch Manning’s path to Texas was anything but simple. A long list of major programs pushed hard for him, while his father, Cooper Manning, kept the process largely out of public view by refusing to announce offers. As the recruitment unfolded, it became increasingly clear that an SEC destination was in play, and Manning was spotted at Georgia, Alabama and Texas games during the 2021 season.
LSU made its own push. Brian Kelly and Joe Sloan worked the Louisiana angle in hopes of keeping him in Baton Rouge, especially with Jayden Daniels headed to the NFL. But despite his background, Manning never seemed especially drawn to the Tigers.
Texas eventually separated itself from the pack, and Manning announced for the Longhorns in June 2022. One reason was the fit. His high school offense at Newman, run by Nelson Stewart, shared traits with Steve Sarkisian’s system, with both built around a spread look that leans on quarterback movement and pre-snap reads.
The college version of Manning has been far more uneven than the hype suggested. He redshirted as a freshman, and after three seasons at Texas he has 6,156 yards, 53 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.
This season has been particularly damaging to his draft stock, especially after many projected him as a top-three quarterback prospect. He is seventh in the SEC in passing yards and tied for fifth in interceptions with 7.
Texas has also had to fight its way back into the playoff picture. The Longhorns were close to slipping out after back-to-back losses to unranked Oklahoma and Florida, but they steadied themselves with wins over No.
7 Ole Miss and No. 18 Missouri.
LSU enters the game with its own problems after losing at home to Alabama for its third defeat of the season. A loss would effectively end the Tigers’ playoff hopes. A win would muddy the rankings and could leave LSU, Texas and Ole Miss all sitting with three losses.
Still, Manning has tried to keep the focus away from any Louisiana homecoming angle.
“I don’t have any legacy [at LSU],” Manning said Tuesday. “I have no family who went to LSU.
I’m from New Orleans, which is an hour from Baton Rouge. So, there’s no connection.
It’s not about me.”
In Other News...
LSU Just Got A Texas Week Injury Twist Fans Needed
The second injury report for LSUs showdown with Texas brought a little more clarity to a week that had been full of uncertainty. Whit Weeks is now listed as questionable, while starting right tackle Weston Davis is probable, giving the Tigers at least some reason to feel better about the shape of their lineup heading into one of the seasons biggest tests. On the other side of the ball, defensive lineman Gabe Reliford has been removed from the report, a sign he could be back in the mix after working his way back from an ACL tear.
There is still plenty to watch as kickoff gets closer, especially with Texas edge rusher Colin Simmons not appearing on the report after dealing with a high ankle sprain. His status could matter a lot for how the game is played at the line of scrimmage, and LSU will be monitoring every update as it tries to get as close to full strength as possible. The latest report does not settle everything, but it does at least give the Tigers a better sense of where they stand before a major SEC-style measuring stick. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Suddenly Faces A Week 11 Threat Fans Wont Like
Week 11 has a way of shaking up the race, and LSU finds itself in the middle of one of the more intriguing upset calls on the board. Texas is being floated as a live threat against the Tigers, a pick built on the kind of recent form, injury concerns and game context that can make a ranked matchup feel a lot less secure than it looked a few weeks ago.
For LSU fans, the concern is less about the headline and more about the timing. This is the stretch where every slip can change the tone of a season, and a loss here would bring an unwelcome jolt to the Tigers momentum. Even in a slate full of speculative upsets, this one stands out because it involves a team LSU cannot afford to take lightly. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Faces A Defining Home Test With Pressure Suddenly Rising
LSU heads back to Tiger Stadium with the kind of SEC matchup that can quickly reshape a season. After the loss to Alabama, the Tigers now get No. 7 Texas at home, and the stakes are clear: a win would give LSU a much-needed boost in the postseason picture while also restoring some momentum in a season that has started to feel precarious.
The matchup brings specific pressure points into focus, starting with LSUs offense in the red zone, where finishing drives has become a major concern. On the other side, the Tigers will have to find answers for Texas quarterback Arch Manning, because containing him could go a long way toward keeping this one within reach and easing some of the pressure that has built around the program. [Read more 🡒]