The talk around Arch Manning has gotten louder, and it’s not coming from one corner anymore. What started as a little chatter has turned into a full-on suggestion from multiple national voices that the Texas quarterback should look elsewhere.
Dan Orlovsky was among the first to say it plainly on social media Monday morning: “Arch should definitely go back to school (as of right now) and definitely not at Texas,” Orlovsky said.
From there, the speculation kept rolling. Gene Wojciechowski of Sports Illustrated floated Indiana as a possible destination, pointing to what Curt Cignetti did with No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza in 2025.
Wojciechowski asked, “I’m not saying it hasn’t worked out, but could it work out better someplace else, given what Curt Cignetti has shown, is it Indiana?” Pat Forde quickly backed the idea, suggesting it could be a “one year rocket ride” for Manning to climb to the top of the draft board.
The list of destinations didn’t stop there. CBS Sports analyst Pete Prisco also hinted Manning should move on from Texas, while former NFL general manager Ran Carthon brought up Miami as a possible landing spot.
At the same time, Texas is making its own quarterback situation a little more interesting. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported the Longhorns are “expected to give an up-tick in first-team quarterback reps to redshirt freshman KJ Lacey Jr this week in practice.”
Even with that report circulating, Steve Sarkisian wasn’t budging on the depth chart. The Texas coach said Manning remains his starter, but he wants more from him.
“Arch can play better for us; he’s our starter, but I need to see a better version of Arch Manning,” Sarkisian said Monday. “Like I need to see a better version of a lot of guys on our offensive football team right now. We need to see a better version of him this week.”
Through six games, Manning has completed 63.9% of his passes for 1,295 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. He has also been sacked 17 times, a sharp jump from the 23 sacks Texas allowed across the entire 2025 season.
Texas, ranked No. 19, hosts No. 7 Ole Miss on Saturday night.
In Other News...
Former Syracuse Guard Is Suddenly One Step From The NBA
Quadir Copeland is suddenly right on the doorstep of the NBA after signing a two-way contract with the Houston Rockets, a sharp turn for a player who went undrafted but kept his name in the conversation with a strong showing in Summer League. For Syracuse fans, it is another reminder of how quickly a former Orange guard can go from college standout to a legitimate pro opportunity, especially after building his path through stops at McNeese State and North Carolina State as well.
Copeland now has a real chance to make his NBA debut soon, with Houston potentially using him in an upcoming game against the Atlanta Hawks. Even before that first appearance, the move signals how much the Rockets valued what they saw this summer, and it gives Copeland a clear opening to prove he belongs at the next level after taking the long road through college and into the professional ranks. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Faces One Big March Madness Test Under Gerry McNamara
Gerry McNamara has taken over at Syracuse with the program in a familiar spot: trying to climb back into relevance after the decision to move on from Adrian Autry. The preseason outlook is not especially kind to the Orange, either in the ACC or on the national stage, but there is at least a path for the season to mean something if the group can turn defensive growth into actual results.
Syracuses schedule gives it chances to chip away at a tournament case, which is what makes the early stretch worth watching even if an immediate surge feels like a long shot. For McNamara, the challenge is less about changing the conversation overnight and more about proving this team can string together enough quality work to keep itself in the March discussion. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Looks Sharp Early But One Orange Question Still Lingers
Syracuse came out looking organized and energetic against Niagara at KeyBank Center, using a steady first-half effort to take a 33-26 lead into the break in Buffalo. The Orange showed enough balance to keep control without having to lean on one burst, and the early minutes suggested a team settling in quickly on a neutral floor.
The first half also offered a useful snapshot of where Syracuse stands right now, with contributions spread around and the kind of pace that can make a game feel comfortable even when the margin is still modest. Still, the bigger question remains whether that early sharpness can hold up once Niagara starts making adjustments and the Orange are asked to sustain it for a full 40 minutes. [Read more 🡒]