Texas A&M’s quarterback situation is already under the microscope, and the next wave of speculation could bring a familiar name into the mix.
With redshirt junior Marcel Reed’s regression and backup Brady Hart not looking ready to step in as the starter this season or in 2027, Mike Elko may be forced to shop at the top end of the transfer portal and pay for a proven answer. A handful of names are already in play, with current Alabama backup quarterback Austin Mack and Oregon State QB Brandon Atkenson among the possibilities expected to draw interest from multiple Power Four programs.
Then there’s Arch Manning, whose season at Texas has taken a sharp turn. The Longhorns have dropped back-to-back SEC games to unranked Oklahoma and Florida, and Manning has struggled through both. Against Florida’s shaky secondary, he threw for just 173 yards and one touchdown.
On "That SEC Podcast," hosts Michael Bratton and Cousin Shane floated several programs that could get involved if Manning hits the portal, and Texas A&M was included in that group - but only if Texas misses the College Football Playoff for the second straight year and potentially moves on from Steve Sarkisian.
Manning still has the arm talent to work in College Station, but the source of Texas’s problems has been clear enough: Sarkisian’s stubborn play-calling and poor blocking up front have helped fuel the slide. The comparison made was to former Texas A&M quarterback and Houston Cougars star Conner Weigman, with the idea that a fresh start could help Manning too.
Still, the expectation is that Texas A&M probably won’t be the first school tied to Manning if he enters the portal. Oklahoma, LSU, Ole Miss - where his grandfather and uncle played - South Carolina and Tennessee are all mentioned as possible destinations as well.
In Other News...
Memphis May Have Found The Response Fans Needed Most
Down 16-3 and coming off a loss to Tulane, Memphis needed a jolt more than a box-score win, and it got one in a 41-34 overtime escape against East Carolina. The Tigers dug in after a rough start, kept playing through the kind of game that can spiral on a team, and found enough offense to stay alive long enough to force the extra period.
Charles Huff called out the resilience and fight afterward, which matters for a group trying to steady itself and build some momentum. Stokes helped supply the spark with multiple touchdown passes, including two to Jemyri Davis, giving Memphis a much-needed reminder that even when things start badly, this team still has a way to respond. [Read more 🡒]
Memphis Fans Have A New Reason To Watch Hoops For St. Jude
Memphis basketball fans who have made the Hoops For St. Jude Tip-Off Classic part of their early-season routine may need to adjust their calendar, but the event is not going away. Organizers are planning to turn the preseason doubleheader into a regular-season, multi-team college basketball showcase, with the hope of building something bigger around a familiar Memphis fixture.
The event featured both the Memphis mens and womens teams in 2024 and 2025, but it will not be held in 2026 as the format gets reworked. Ike Anand, president and CEO of ALSAC, said the long-term goal is to expand the event so it can draw more teams and more fans while continuing to support St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital. [Read more 🡒]
Marcus Stokes Just Turned Memphis Season Into An Awards Race
Marcus Stokes season at Memphis has already done plenty of talking, and now it has earned him a spot on the Manning Award Watch List. The honor, which tracks college footballs top quarterbacks and even factors in bowl performances, adds another layer to a year that has put Stokes among the most productive passers in the country. He ranks second in the FBS in passing yards and touchdowns, numbers that have helped turn Memphis into one of the more interesting offenses to follow down the stretch.
The Tigers also needed Stokes at his best to keep momentum rolling after an overtime win against East Carolina pushed them to bowl eligibility. With Army coming to Memphis on October 31, the spotlight figures to stay bright, and so does the conversation around what the rest of this season might mean for Stokes individually. For Memphis, the broader picture is simple: a quarterback playing at an award-level pace can change the feel of an entire season. [Read more 🡒]