Arch Manning’s latest outing did him no favors, and Mel Kiper Jr.’s refreshed 2027 NFL Draft board made that clear in a hurry.
Kiper released an updated top 10 prospect list ahead of the 2027 draft, and the Texas quarterback was nowhere to be found. That stands out even more because Manning entered the 2026 college football season viewed as one of the top players in his class. Instead of turning pro, he chose to return to the Longhorns for another year and chase a deep playoff run.
So far, the season has been uneven. Texas fell to Oklahoma on Saturday, and Manning’s late interception sealed the Sooners’ win. He finished 19 of 31 for 260 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions, a line that captured both the flashes and the mistakes that have defined his start.
Kiper’s list leans heavily on elite talent, with Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith holding the No. 1 spot after piling up 48 receptions for 916 yards and 11 touchdowns. The analyst also included four quarterbacks, just not Manning.
That omission says plenty about how much ground Manning still has to cover. After his first year as a starter, he could have entered the NFL. Instead, he’s back at Texas, and Kiper’s updated rankings show he’ll need a stronger response before he can force his way back into the top tier.
There’s still time for that to change. Manning has already shown he can take a step forward, and now the task is doing it again as Steve Sarkisian tries to get Texas moving in the right direction.
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Several former Texas defenders are already carving out meaningful jobs at their new schools this season, a reminder that the Longhorns roster churn is now being felt well beyond Austin. Elijah Bo Barnes has been especially steady at Kentucky, where he has started every game at middle linebacker, while Liona Lefau has also settled into a visible role at Colorado, starting three of five games and remaining listed as a starter on the latest depth chart.
The rest of the group has had a more varied path, but the common thread is opportunity. Lavon Johnson has gotten on the field at Maryland, Melvin Hills III has appeared for UConn, and Caleb Chester has logged game action for Arizona State, with each finding a different kind of foothold as the season unfolds. For Texas fans keeping tabs on the programs former players, it is another look at how widely those exits can spread across the college football map. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Just Entered A Tough Recruiting Battle For A Key 2028 Target
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The recruiting picture is still taking shape, but Florida is currently viewed as the leader, which gives Texas plenty of ground to make up. For the Longhorns, the offer is another sign that they are moving aggressively on a player whose frame and potential fit the kind of defensive line profile they want to keep adding. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Golf Just Made A Strong Statement At St Andrews
Texas mens golf added another early-season marker to an already strong start, winning the St Andrews Links Collegiate at the Old Course in a format that blended stroke play and match play. The No. 8 Longhorns handled the championship match against the University of St Andrews and left Scotland with their second team title of the 2026-27 season, a useful sign that the group is not just winning, but doing it in a variety of settings.
Daniel Bennett, Matt Comegys, Eduardo Derbez Torres and Brooks Simmons all picked up individual match wins to help separate Texas from the field at one of the sports most iconic venues. The result gives the Longhorns another line on the resume, and it also underlines how much depth matters in a tournament where every matchup can swing the final outcome. [Read more 🡒]