Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers are among the 22 teams to have a scout at the Ohio State vs Texas game on Saturday, getting their first in-person look at potential 2026 NFL Draft quarterback Arch Manning this season.
The game between the Longhorns and Buckeyes will kick off at noon from Columbus, and will be broadcast on FOX.
Manning, the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning and grandson of his namesake Archie Manning, enters the season as a starter for Texas for the first time. Manning redshirted as a true freshman in 2023. Last season, he served as the backup to Quinn Ewers, appearing in 10 games and making two starts.
He competed 61 of 90 passes (67.8%) for 939 yards (10.4 Y/A), nine touchdowns, two interceptions and a 184 passer rating. The promise showed by Manning apparently caused Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian to push Ewers out the door. He ended up choosing the NFL Draft over the transfer portal, and is now with the Miami Dolphins.
Despite playing in just 233 snaps so far in his college career, Manning is already being talked about as a potential first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, mostly thanks to his family ties. Archie Manning was a two-time Pro Bowler and threw for almost 24,000 yards in a 13-year career mostly spent with the New Orleans Saints.
The second generation of Manning exceeded the first, with Peyton and Eli combining for four Super Bowl titles. Peyton Manning was the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft and won five NFL MVP Awards, seven All-Pros and was selected to 14 Pro Bowls in his Hall of Fame career, split between the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos. Eli Manning won two Super Bowls and was a four-time Pro Bowler for the New York Giants.
Arch is the son of Cooper Manning, the oldest of the three Manning brothers. Cooper Manning was a wide receiver at Ole Miss before a back injury cut short his football career.
A redshirt sophomore, Manning is eligible to enter the 2026 NFL Draft, it’s not clear whether he will. Archie Manning said at one point this offseason that he expected his grandson to return to school, but Arch himself said that he has not yet decided about his future plans.
The Steelers will be entering the 2026 NFL Draft in obvious need of a quarterback, with Aaron Rodgers expected to retire after one season in Pittsburgh.
Texas at Ohio State FAU at Maryland
1. Texas QB Arch Manning
6. Ohio State S Caleb Downs
20. Texas LB Anthony Hill Jr.
29. Ohio State WR Carnell Tate
34. Ohio State LB Sonny Styles
37. Ohio State TE Max Klare
39. Texas OT Trevor Goosby
42. Texas CB Malik Muhammad
95. Texas IOL D.J. Campbell
100. Texas S Michael Taffe
102. Texas RB Quintrevion Wisner
111. Ohio State CB Davison Igbinosun
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