Arch Manning Is Coming Back to Texas - And the Longhorns Are Officially in Business for 2026
Arch Manning’s first full season as the Texas Longhorns’ starting quarterback didn’t exactly begin with Heisman fireworks. But by the time the dust settled on the 2025 regular season, the former No. 1 recruit had transformed from a question mark into one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in college football.
And now, just ahead of Texas' Citrus Bowl clash with Michigan, Manning has made his next move clear: he’s coming back to Austin for another year.
“Arch is playing football at Texas next year,” his father, Cooper Manning, told ESPN on Monday.
That simple statement carries weight - not just for the Longhorns’ 2026 outlook, but for the college football landscape as a whole.
A Season That Started Shaky, Ended with a Statement
Let’s rewind to the beginning of the season. Manning, the preseason Heisman favorite and centerpiece of a Texas team ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll, entered the year with sky-high expectations - and a target on his back. But the early results didn’t match the hype.
Behind an offensive line that struggled to hold its ground, Manning often looked rushed and uncomfortable. The arm talent was obvious, but the timing was off.
Missed throws, slow reads, and costly turnovers led to early losses and a tumble out of the Top 25. The national conversation quickly shifted from “Can Arch win the Heisman?”
to “Is Arch ready for this stage?”
But Manning didn’t fold. He recalibrated.
As the season progressed, so did his command of the offense. By November, something clicked.
In a three-game stretch against Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, and Arkansas, Manning looked every bit the elite quarterback Texas fans had been waiting for. He averaged 354 passing yards in that span, tossing 10 touchdowns to just one interception.
The deep ball, which had been inconsistent early on, suddenly became a weapon. His pocket presence sharpened.
The game slowed down.
By the time Texas closed the regular season with a win over No. 3 Texas A&M, Manning had not only regained his footing - he’d taken a leap.
The Longhorns finished 9-3, ranked 13th in the country, and just outside the College Football Playoff. But more importantly, they had their guy.
Why He’s Not Going Pro - Yet
Manning’s return to Texas bucks the trend in an era where top quarterbacks often bolt for the NFL after one good season. And make no mistake - he would’ve been a top pick. Some scouts already had him penciled in as the potential No. 1 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.
But for the Mannings, the decision wasn’t about draft stock. It was about development.
The family’s blueprint is well established. Both Peyton and Eli stayed in college for four years, and Peyton famously returned to Tennessee for his senior season despite being a lock for the top pick in the 1997 draft. That same patient, long-game mindset is guiding Arch now.
There’s also the reality that Manning is still just scratching the surface. His early-season inconsistencies - the turnovers, the timing issues - weren’t just noise.
They were real growing pains. And while his late-season surge was impressive, the full body of work still reflects a quarterback in the middle of his evolution.
By coming back, Manning is betting on himself - and on head coach Steve Sarkisian - to turn a strong finish into a complete, dominant season. He’s also in a rare position for a college athlete: thanks to lucrative NIL deals, he doesn’t need to rush to the NFL for financial reasons. That gives him the freedom to focus solely on football and finishing what he started.
And let’s not overlook the competitive fire. Texas began the year as the top-ranked team in the country and missed the Playoff.
That’s not the ending anyone in Austin wanted. With Manning back at the helm, 2026 becomes a redemption tour - and the Longhorns are poised to be right back in the national title conversation.
The Numbers Behind the Growth
Manning’s final stat line tells the story of a quarterback who got better when it mattered most:
- Games Played: 12
- Passing Yards: 2,942
- Passing Touchdowns: 24
- Interceptions: 7
- Completion Percentage: 61.4%
- Quarterback Rating: 145.8
- Rushing Yards: 244
- Rushing Touchdowns: 8
- Total Touchdowns Accounted For: 33 (24 passing, 8 rushing, 1 receiving)
The back half of the season was especially electric. Half of his 24 passing touchdowns came in the final five games.
He posted three 300-yard games in that stretch and capped it all off with a statement performance against Arkansas, where he accounted for six total touchdowns - including one on the ground and one through the air and a receiving score. That made him the first Texas QB ever, and the first SEC quarterback since 2014, to record a passing, rushing, and receiving touchdown in the same game.
That kind of versatility doesn’t just show off athleticism - it reflects a growing confidence and command of the offense.
What’s Next for Texas?
With Manning locked in for 2026, the Longhorns’ quarterback room is in good hands - and the expectations are only going to rise. Behind him, talented recruits are waiting in the wings, but this is Arch’s team now.
Texas will head into the offseason with a proven leader under center, a top-tier offensive mind in Sarkisian, and a roster that’s shown it can beat elite teams. They took down three AP Top-10 opponents this season - Oklahoma, Vanderbilt, and Texas A&M - and they did it with a quarterback who was still learning on the fly.
Now, with a full offseason to build on that foundation, the Longhorns aren’t just hoping to make the Playoff next year. They’re aiming to win it.
Get ready for Year 2 of Arch Manning in Austin. If the end of 2025 was any indication, 2026 could be something special.