Since arriving in Austin, Arch Manning has carried the kind of expectations that follow only the most watched quarterbacks. The Texas signal caller has flashed the arm talent that made him a headline name in the first place, but he’s also built a reputation for making defensive coordinators sweat with what he can do once the play breaks down.
On Monday, Manning pointed to one NFL star as a player he studies closely: Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Speaking with the media, Manning said, "Josh does a good job using his legs when he needs to. I think sometimes I don't need to take unnecessary hits."
That kind of approach makes sense for a quarterback who has already shown he can hurt defenses in more than one way. Manning has 597 rushing yards in 28 career games, along with 10 touchdowns in that stretch. He set a career high in rushing scores last season, and that added dimension has made Texas tougher to game-plan against.
The comparison to Allen also fits the larger conversation around Manning’s future. Even with the 2026 season still ongoing, he’s viewed as a possible NFL Draft pick next year. For teams searching for a franchise quarterback, his name is going to stay near the top of the conversation, especially if his development keeps trending upward.
For now, Manning remains one of the key players to follow as Texas pushes toward a national title. And if he keeps taking cues from Allen, the rest of the 2026 season could deliver plenty of big moments.
In Other News...
Ole Miss Faces An Early SEC Test Fans Will Be Watching Closely
Week 4 of the 2026 college football season opens Thursday, Sept. 24, and the calendar is loaded from the start, with six games featuring ranked teams facing each other. The centerpiece for Texas fans is a top-tier road trip to Neyland Stadium, where No. 1 Texas meets No. 14 Tennessee in a matchup that already has the feel of one of the seasons early measuring sticks.
The spotlight around Knoxville only adds to the stage, with ESPN College GameDay setting up on site and President Donald Trump expected to attend. Beyond the headliner, the week brings a full slate across multiple networks, giving the Longhorns and the rest of the ranked field a chance to spend the weekend under a national microscope. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Is Chasing A Key Flip In A Crowded Recruiting Battle
Texas has jumped into the race for three-star linebacker Jason Crenshaw Jr., a Georgia Tech commitment whose recruitment has suddenly gotten a lot busier. The Longhorns offered Crenshaw, and since then the list of suitors has grown to include several heavyweight programs, which is usually a sign that a prospect's stock is rising fast. For Texas, the appeal is obvious: if a player starts drawing that kind of national attention, getting him on campus becomes the first real test.
Crenshaw is set to make an official visit to Austin in late October, giving the Longhorns a chance to sell him in the middle of one of the more eye-catching home dates on the schedule. It is the kind of weekend that can change a recruit's perspective quickly, especially when a defender has a current pledge elsewhere and a growing pile of fresh offers waiting in the wings. Texas now has a real shot to make a late push, but the full picture of where this one is headed still has to unfold. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Lets Another Road Lead Slip In Frustrating SEC Draw
Texas had a chance to bring home a road win from Donald R. Dizney Stadium, but instead settled for a 1-1 SEC draw with Florida after taking the lead in the first half. Anderson put the Longhorns in front on a penalty kick in the 30th minute, giving Texas a path to a useful conference result in a tough environment.
Florida answered in the second half when Zoe Main curled in a free kick from just outside the box at the 59:40 mark, and the Gators pressed harder after that, outshooting Texas over the final 45 minutes. Bayliss Flynn helped Texas hang on with five saves, but the Longhorns were left to wonder about another road lead that got away. [Read more 🡒]