Texas quarterback Arch Manning is still the kind of name that gets people talking like a future first-round lock, but that buzz is cooling fast in some corners of the draft world.
Todd McShay made that point very clear on Thursday. The longtime NFL Draft analyst rolled out his top 10 quarterbacks for the 2027 NFL Draft and left Manning off the list entirely. That omission lines up with a growing sentiment that Manning may no longer be viewed as a top-10 quarterback prospect - and, in the eyes of some evaluators, may not be ready to leave college after next season at all.
The idea of Manning sticking around for a fifth year has been a hot topic on social media this season, and it’s becoming a more attractive path for quarterbacks in general, especially when they land at a stronger program. For Manning, though, the family legacy adds another layer. Archie Manning, his grandfather and namesake, spent three years in college before entering the NFL, while both of Arch’s uncles played four college seasons.
Going a year longer would put Arch in unusual company within his own family, and that pressure is part of the backdrop here. Strip away the name and the recruiting hype, and the production hasn’t screamed elite draft pick.
In five games this season, Manning has completed 63-percent of his passes for 1,122 yards and 10 touchdowns with five interceptions. His four-touchdown game against Texas State is propping up those numbers quite a bit.
If Manning wants to change the conversation, the next stretch has to go a lot differently. He has seven regular-season games left, and possibly the College Football Playoff beyond that, to make a stronger case before decision time arrives.
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Sarkisian's Latest Officiating Frustration Will Fire Up Texas Fans
Steve Sarkisian did not hide his frustration after a pass-interference flag on cornerback Kade Phillips in Texas loss to Oklahoma, saying Phillips made a good play on the ball. The call added another flashpoint to a game that already had the Longhorns feeling hard done by, and it fit into a season in which Texas has seen its secondary spend too much time on the wrong side of the officials.
Phillips has now been flagged for pass interference three times this season, while senior cornerback Bo Mascoe has picked up two such penalties of his own. Sarkisians complaint was not just about one call, either - he made clear the Longhorns are waiting for similar contact to go their way, and that imbalance is the sort of thing Texas fans are likely to latch onto as the season moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma May Have Sparked A Bigger Arch Manning Debate
Arch Mannings uneven start to the 2026 college football season has started to spill beyond the box score, and the latest sign came when Mel Kiper Jr. updated his top 10 prospects for the 2027 NFL Draft without including the Texas quarterback. Manning has been under a brighter spotlight than almost any player in the sport, and the recent loss to Oklahoma only sharpened the scrutiny after he threw two interceptions in that game.
Kipers list instead opened with Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith at No. 1, a reminder that the early draft conversation is already taking shape around other headliners. For Manning, the omission is less about one rankings update than the broader debate it reflects: how much patience evaluators should have for a quarterback whose talent is obvious, but whose early-season play has left plenty of questions hanging in the air. [Read more 🡒]
Arch Manning Faces A Real Test Against A Desperate Florida Defense
Floridas early-season surge has given way to a much tougher stretch, and the Gators now head into a difficult run with Texas and Georgia looming on the schedule. Coach Jon Sumrall has already had to navigate the fallout from recent losses, including the kind of passionate fan reaction that comes with a program trying to hold onto momentum, while the bigger question inside the building is whether the defense can steady itself in the moments that matter most.
For Texas, the matchup adds another layer to the Arch Manning conversation. His play has been uneven enough to keep the focus on whether he can deliver more consistently against a defense that badly needs a response, and Floridas recent problems in critical stretches only raise the stakes. The Gators have also seen some leadership emerge amid the turbulence, but with the season tightening and the opponent sharpened by its own uncertainty, this one feels like a real test on both sides. [Read more 🡒]