Eli Manning won’t be splitting his loyalty when Texas and Ole Miss meet on Oct. 24 in the 2026 college football season.
With No. 1 Texas and No.
9 Ole Miss both in the hunt for the SEC title and the national title, the matchup already has plenty riding on it. Texas is 4-0, while Ole Miss sits at 3-1.
But when asked about the game on “Pardon My Take,” the former Ole Miss quarterback made it clear where he stands: he’s backing his nephew, Arch Manning, and the Longhorns.
“You know what, this is the way I look at it. I mean Ole Miss is going to play Texas in a few weeks in the regular season.
You root for your family,” Manning said on “Pardon My Take.” “I have basically maybe two years to root for my nephew in college, and so for those two years, or maybe it’s the last year, whatever happens, I’m going to root for my nephew to win every single game that he plays in, and that’s just the way it is.
After that, I won’t care about it that much.”
Arch Manning has given his uncle plenty to cheer for so far. Texas has opened the season 4-0, and the quarterback has thrown for 862 yards with seven touchdowns and three interceptions.
Before Texas gets to Ole Miss, it still has Oklahoma and Florida on the schedule. A kickoff time for the Ole Miss-Texas game has not yet been announced.
In Other News...
Ole Miss Is Making A Uniform Change Fans Will Definitely Notice
Ole Miss is headed for a major wardrobe shift, and it will not be subtle. Ole Miss Athletics announced a new seven-year partnership with adidas beginning July 1, 2027, ending a 27-year run with Nike and setting up a fresh look across all 18 varsity programs. The deal covers apparel, footwear and equipment, while also opening the door to expanded Name, Image and Likeness opportunities for student-athletes.
For Rebels fans, the most immediate intrigue is how the new partnership will balance change with tradition. Both sides say the schools familiar colors and marks will be preserved, but adidas will also have a chance to introduce new branding and uniform designs. After nearly three decades with the same outfitter, the transition figures to be one of the more noticeable off-field changes around the program in the coming years. [Read more 🡒]
Eli Manning Just Put Ole Miss Fans In An Awkward Spot
Eli Manning created a little discomfort for Ole Miss fans this week when he made clear where his loyalties will land for Texas upcoming game against the Rebels in Austin. The former Ole Miss star said he will be pulling for his nephew, Arch Manning, and the Longhorns in this one, even while emphasizing that his connection to his alma mater has not changed.
It is the sort of family-versus-school moment that college football specializes in, especially with Arch now in the spotlight as Texas starting quarterback. Eli said he only has a limited window to root for his nephew during a college career that is still unfolding, which leaves Rebels fans in the odd position of hearing one of their most famous alumni openly cheer against them for a week. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Needs A Sharper SEC Statement Coming Out Of The Bye
Ole Miss comes out of its bye week with a clear chance to reset the conversation around its SEC standing, and the matchup at Vanderbilt gives the Rebels a familiar kind of measuring stick. The win over LSU showed what this team can be at its best, but the loss to Florida reminded everyone how quickly an SEC season can tighten up. Pete Golding spent the open week stressing accountability, and the expectation is that leading rusher Kewan Lacy will be back in the mix when the Rebels return to the field.
Vanderbilt, meanwhile, brings its own uncertainty into the game with a quarterback injury situation that is still unresolved, even as the Commodores remain hopeful for his availability. Clark Leas approach is likely to center on limiting Ole Miss possessions and making the Rebels earn every drive, which adds another layer to a game Ole Miss needs to control. After the bye, this is the kind of spot where a cleaner, sharper showing would say a lot about where the Rebels are headed next. [Read more 🡒]