Arch Manning to Return to Texas in 2026: A Season of Growth, Grit, and Guts
Arch Manning isn’t going anywhere-at least not yet. Despite being eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft, the redshirt sophomore quarterback is set to return to the Texas Longhorns next season, a source close to the program confirmed. And after the rollercoaster that was 2025, it’s clear Manning isn’t just chasing stats-he’s chasing growth, redemption, and unfinished business.
Heading into the Citrus Bowl showdown with Michigan on Dec. 31, Manning’s numbers speak volumes: 33 total touchdowns, seven interceptions, nearly 3,000 passing yards, and a handful of highlight-reel plays that show flashes of the elite quarterback many expected him to be. But the real story isn’t just in the stat sheet-it’s in the way he responded when things didn’t go his way.
A Season That Started with Sky-High Expectations
Before a single snap this season, Manning was already carrying the weight of a program, a famous last name, and a nation of college football fans eager to see what the next Manning could do. He was the Heisman favorite in some circles, despite entering the year with just two college starts under his belt. That’s not pressure-it’s a spotlight the size of Texas.
And the team around him? Young and unproven.
Texas lost 10 key offensive contributors from the previous year, including four starting offensive linemen, two tight ends, two wideouts, a running back, and quarterback Quinn Ewers. That’s a full overhaul.
Yet Manning was expected to deliver from day one.
His father, Cooper Manning, called the preseason hype “completely ridiculous,” and he wasn’t wrong. This was a team still figuring itself out, and Arch was learning on the fly.
Early Struggles, Harsh Headlines
The season opener at then-No. 3 Ohio State was a mixed bag.
Manning missed easy throws one drive and dropped dimes the next. That inconsistency followed him into a win over UTEP, where he had a stretch of 10 straight incompletions-drawing boos from the home crowd.
By the time Texas lost at Florida and Manning was sacked six times, the noise around him was deafening.
Then came the headline from The New York Times: “Is Arch Manning college football’s first flop?”
Manning didn’t flinch. Instead, he responded with his best performance of the season-completing 21-of-27 passes in a 23-6 upset of sixth-ranked Oklahoma just a week later.
That wasn’t just a bounce-back win. That was a statement.
“He doesn’t even care about the noise,” said Texas safety Michael Taaffe, one of Manning’s closest friends on the team. “He just cares about winning and his teammates.”
Earning Respect the Hard Way
Manning’s toughest moments may have earned him the most respect in the locker room. After the Florida game, where he was hit a dozen times and sacked six, he didn’t miss a single snap of practice the following week. That kind of toughness doesn’t go unnoticed-especially by the guys protecting him.
“That's a guy I want to lay my life on the line for every down,” said left tackle Trevor Goosby. “He was getting beat up, and it was our fault. But he kept showing up.”
And then came the Mississippi State game-a gritty, come-from-behind win where Manning led the charge from 17 points down in the fourth quarter. He took a shot on the first play of overtime that left him concussed, but he’d already done enough to put Texas in position to win.
The next week? He was back under center, torching Vanderbilt for 328 yards and three touchdowns with a 75.8% completion rate.
That’s not just talent. That’s resilience.
The Sarkisian Factor
A big reason Manning is staying? Head coach Steve Sarkisian. The offensive-minded head coach has been in his corner from day one, even when the throws weren’t landing and the offense sputtered.
“When I wasn't playing well, I was missing throws and probably making his play calls look bad, he could’ve thrown me under the bus,” Manning said. “But he never did. He always uplifted me.”
That trust has paid off. Over Texas’ final five games-against Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Georgia, Arkansas, and Texas A&M-Manning played his best football of the year. He accounted for 16 total touchdowns and just two turnovers, completing over 62% of his passes and showing the kind of command and poise that Texas fans had been waiting to see.
Looking Ahead: 2026 and Beyond
Manning’s decision to return isn’t just about unfinished business-it’s about building something sustainable. He knows he’s not a finished product, and neither is this Texas team. But the foundation is there.
“We’re going to benefit from the journey that he had to go on,” Sarkisian said recently. “He’s still going to improve.
He’s still going to get better. But I’m very proud of him for the way he’s handled so much of what we went through.”
The numbers back it up. Through 12 games, Manning has thrown for nearly 3,000 yards, 24 touchdowns, and added eight rushing scores-not to mention a receiving touchdown. His stat line stacks up well against some of the nation’s best, including Heisman runner-up Diego Pavia.
But maybe the most important stat? One: the number of seasons Arch Manning has left in Austin. And with a full offseason to build on what he’s learned, 2026 could be the year he puts it all together.
“I think every quarterback in the country, every player in the country, has to have that confidence in themselves that they're the best player on the field,” Manning said. “And I'm gonna continue to have that as long as I play the sport. That'll never change.”
If that confidence continues to translate into growth and grit, Texas might just have its next great quarterback right where it wants him-back in burnt orange, ready to lead.