Arch Manning’s future at Texas is already becoming one of the loudest talking points around the SEC, and the rumor mill has now put two conference powers in the mix if he ever decides to move on.
The latest buzz comes from former ESPN analyst David Pollack, who said an SEC coach told him he expects Manning to leave Texas after this season. Pollack also pointed to Georgia as a school that could make a serious push if Manning enters the transfer portal.
“I think it will make a lot of sense for both to go their own ways, possibly. And I don’t know what’s going to happen the rest of the year, and I don’t know what the coaching situation’s gonna look like,” Pollack said.
He then went a step further and shared what that coach told him about a possible destination.
“That same coach that told me that actually said, ‘I think he’ll go to Georgia.’ But I can’t name names or any of that stuff,” Pollack added.
Manning has not said anything publicly about wanting out, but the speculation has only grown as his season has gone sideways. He came into 2026 with plenty of hype after a strong 2025 campaign, when he threw for 3,163 yards with 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
This year, the production has dipped. Through seven games, he has completed 63.3% of his passes for 1,507 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Texas’ quarterback situation has also started to draw attention behind him. Before last weekend’s game against Ole Miss, reports said backup KJ Lacey Jr. got a “precipitous uptick in first-team reps,” a sign the staff may be opening the door for a bigger role.
Georgia is not the only school that has been mentioned. NFL insider Tom Pelissero previously brought up Ole Miss as another possible landing spot. On The Bill Simmons Podcast, Pelissero said he asked someone close to Manning where he might be in 2027.
“I texted one person who’s known Arch (Manning) a long time earlier tonight, and I said, ‘Where do you see Arch in 2027?’ And his response was Ole Miss,” Pelissero said.
Draft analyst Todd McShay has also said Manning should think about the transfer portal, though he did not name a school.
For now, Manning is still committed to Texas. What happens next may not get much clearer until the season ends and he has a chance to sort through his options.
In Other News...
Cam Coleman Gave Texas A Spark Then Left Fans Worried
Cam Coleman gave Texas exactly the kind of early burst it needed against Mississippi State, turning two catches into 61 yards and a touchdown before the first half had even settled in. After being listed on the injury report earlier in the week with a shoulder issue from the previous game, he was cleared to play and looked ready to make an immediate impact.
Then came the part that had Longhorns fans watching closely. Coleman was seen heading to the locker room in the second quarter without any obvious injury moment on the field, leaving a jolt of concern after such a promising start and raising fresh questions about his status for the rest of the game. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Defense Suddenly Has A New Mississippi State Problem
Mississippi State is making another quarterback change before facing Texas, with AJ Swann set to start in place of injured starter Kamario Taylor and backup Parker Puckett. For the Longhorns, it adds a fresh layer to a matchup already shaped by uncertainty, because Swann arrives with prior college experience but without any game action yet for Mississippi State.
Texas spent part of the week preparing for one look and now has to account for another, since Swann is expected to bring a different style than Taylor. That kind of late adjustment can matter on defense, especially when a unit has to sort out tendencies on the fly and decide where the real pressure points are going to be. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Backfield Suddenly Has A Bigger Problem Than Fans Expected
Texas backfield took another hit against Mississippi State when Hollywood Smothers was injured after absorbing a hard shot and had to be taken to the medical tent. It was already a frustrating afternoon for the Longhorns ground game, and Smothers had only a limited role before leaving, while Raleek Brown continued to show why he has become such an important part of the rotation.
Smothers had already missed two games because of a lower-leg injury, and the bigger concern now is how much more time he might lose in a backfield where Brown has clearly been the more productive runner this season. Brown has outpaced him in both rushing yards and touchdowns, which only sharpens the pressure on Texas to sort out a situation that has gone from inconvenient to potentially much more serious. [Read more 🡒]