Arch Manning’s first trip to Knoxville is lining up as one of those college football moments that comes with a built-in family storyline, even before the ball is snapped.
The Texas quarterback has worn burnt orange and white since arriving in Austin, a noticeable break from the Manning family’s old Mississippi ties. Peyton Manning, of course, carved out his own path at Tennessee rather than following the family line through Ole Miss, and Arch has now done the same kind of thing in his own way after choosing Texas. But unlike his uncle, Arch had never actually been to Knoxville before this week.
That detail caught Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian off guard.
“You know it's interesting, Arch and I were meeting this morning, and I had just assumed he'd been to Knoxville and been to Tennessee, [but] he's never been before,” Sarkisian said in his game preview press conference on Monday. “For [Arch], I'm sure there's going to be a special in there, for the family and for him, but at the end of the day, you've got to go play.”
Before committing to Texas, Manning made 24 visits to Division I programs to find the right fit. His travel log included seven trips to Texas, four visits each to Alabama, Georgia and Ole Miss, two to Clemson and one apiece to LSU, SMU and Virginia. Tennessee was not among them.
Sarkisian said later in the press conference that he did not think Manning was dwelling on Peyton’s Tennessee history all that much. From Texas’ perspective, the focus is on the game, not the family album.
Manning sounded the same note when he was asked about Neyland Stadium and whether he had spoken with Peyton about the matchup. His comments stayed centered on the challenge in front of him.
“Definitely excited to play; hostile environment, SEC road game, it's what it's all about,” Manning said. “Just being 'us against the world' kind of mentality.”
Arch Manning says he’s never been to Knoxville before, and that he’s excited to have the opportunity to play against Tennessee. @ontexasfootball pic.twitter.com/6jxHN6DZ2f
- CJ Vogel (@CJVogel_OTF) September 21, 2026
Texas and Tennessee are heading into their first SEC matchup of the season, and the setting only adds to the noise. By Saturday, with College GameDay in town and a top-15 showdown on deck, it’s hard to imagine the Manning connection staying in the background for long.
In Other News...
Arch Manning Controversy Is About To Test Texas Again
Arch Manning spent part of the week cleaning up a moment that drew attention for the wrong reasons, apologizing after he laughed at an AI-generated spoof video that showed Steve Sarkisian slapping ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe. Manning called his reaction insensitive, and the episode became another reminder of how quickly even a brief sideline reaction can turn into a bigger story around Texas, where every public moment involving the quarterback is under a sharper lens.
Rowe later accepted the apology after the two had a productive private conversation, saying they would move forward with respect, which helped quiet the immediate fallout. Still, there is one more wrinkle before Texas meets Tennessee, because Manning and Sarkisian are expected to sit down with Rowe together in the lead-up to the game, a small but noticeable test of how smoothly everyone can move past a controversy that never should have existed in the first place. [Read more 🡒]
Arch Manning Suddenly Has Pressure In A Heisman Race Still Up For Grabs
Trinidad Chambliss made a real move in the Heisman conversation with a strong showing against LSU, the kind of performance that can change the way voters and oddsmakers look at the board this early in the season. He threw for 363 yards and accounted for three total touchdowns, while Miami quarterback Darian Mensah added another eye-catching line to the race by setting an ACC record for consecutive completions.
For Texas fans, the bigger point is that Arch Manning is still very much in the mix, but the runway is getting shorter for everyone as the season settles in. After three weeks, the Heisman picture remains wide open, with Manning joined by Kamario Taylor, Jeremiah Smith and CJ Carr among the names still hanging around a race that has already started to shift. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Gets Encouraging Colin Simmons News Before Tennessee Showdown
Texas first Southeastern Conference availability report of the 2026 season gave the Longhorns a clearer picture heading into their matchup with Tennessee, and the early read is a positive one for one of their top defensive playmakers. EDGE rusher Colin Simmons is listed as probable, an encouraging sign after he exited the UTSA game in a protective walking boot and left some concern about how he would look going into a bigger stage.
The report also shows the kind of attrition that can shape a game like this, with Justus Terry, Xavier Filsaime and Jordan Coleman out and Nick Townsend doubtful. Tennessee, meanwhile, has five players listed as unavailable, so both sides are already dealing with personnel questions before kickoff, but Texas at least appears to have a chance to count on Simmons when the pressure ramps up. [Read more 🡒]