Eli Manning isn’t hiding where his loyalty sits for the Ole Miss-Texas showdown on Oct. 24 in Austin. For one week, at least, the former Rebels star is siding with family.
Manning, who built one of the best careers in Oxford as a four-year letterman and three-year starter, said he’ll be pulling for his nephew Arch Manning when Texas meets Ole Miss. The decision puts him in the unusual spot of backing the Longhorns over his alma mater, even if only temporarily.
On Barstool Sports’ Pardon My Take, Manning laid out the tug-of-war in plain terms.
"I have basically maybe two years to root for my nephew in college. 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." Manning said, "After that, with Texas, I won’t care about them that much.
Ole Miss will be 100%. And I root for Ole Miss to win every other game probably beside a little bit that one (against Texas).
But that’s just the way it is".
That stance comes with some weight. Manning’s name is all over the Ole Miss campus, and the family connection runs deep through Oxford. His father, Archie Manning, is an Ole Miss legend, and the Manning Athletics Performance Center sits on Manning Way.
Arch Manning has been making his own mark at Texas, and Eli pointed to the bond that makes this an easy call from a family standpoint. He said, “This is a kid I’ve known since he was born.
I’ve played football with him, I’ve done drills with him, I’ve taught him the game of football. He’s my brother’s son - he’s family, and you root for family in these scenarios.
It’s bigger than your college, it’s bigger than where you went. It’s your blood and so I’m going to support him 100% on his football journey for the rest of his life.”
Arch Manning, the son of Cooper Manning, an Ole Miss alumnus who received a football scholarship from the university before a career-ending diagnosis of spinal stenosis, has spent three years at Texas and has already drawn national attention. With 2026 set to be his second season as the Longhorns starter, his numbers are already being compared with those of his uncle Peyton Manning, the five-time NFL MVP and two-time Super Bowl champion.
Peyton Manning has already dealt with the same sort of family-versus-school dilemma, as Arch’s Texas team beat Tennessee 20-17 two weeks ago at Neyland Stadium.
Ole Miss has a few games to play before that Austin trip. The Rebels are at Vanderbilt on Saturday, then return home to face Missouri on Oct. 17 before heading to Texas on Oct. 24.
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 🡒]
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 🡒]
Eli Manning Just Added Intrigue To Ole Miss vs Texas
The buildup to Ole Miss-Texas on Oct. 24 already had plenty of juice, and Eli Manning just gave it another wrinkle. On a recent appearance on Pardon My Take, the former Rebels star said hell be pulling for his nephew, Texas quarterback Arch Manning, when the teams meet during the 2026 college football season.
Its a small family decision, but a notable one for Ole Miss fans who have long claimed Manning as one of their own. Arch has helped Texas get off to a 4-0 start and has put together the kind of passing numbers that make the matchup feel even bigger, with the Longhorns carrying real momentum into a game that now comes with an extra layer of Manning family intrigue. [Read more 🡒]