Steelers Now
Texas quarterback Arch Manning was one of the most-talked about prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class, but after a struggle of a 2025 season, it turns out that the latest member of the Manning family won’t be in this year’s draft class at all.
Manning has decided to return to Texas, his father, Cooper Manning, told ESPN. In an era defined by early exits and draft-day dreams, Manning’s decision to stay at Texas stands out as a deliberate bet on growth over haste. Manning was the pre-season favorite to win the Heisman and go first in the 2026 NFL Draft, but after a rough first season as the starter for the Longhorns, he has slipped down draft boards among this class.
Manning finished his first regular season as a starter leading Texas to a 9-3 record, posting 2,942 passing yards to go with 24 touchdowns and 7 interceptions, as well as 244 yards and 8 touchdowns rushing. Arch struggled early but has shown great strides the last few weeks, most notably in SEC showdowns against Arkansas and Vanderbilt, led by Heisman Trophy runner-up Diego Pavia, throwing for 389 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 52-37 victory over the Razorbacks and 328 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 34-31 win against the 13th ranked Commodores. After a rough start to the season, this growth shows promise and he could be the favorite to go first overall in the 2027 NFL Draft.
That promise was a central theme in the conversation this week after Manning officially announced he will return to Texas for the 2026 season and pass on the upcoming NFL Draft. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian outlined why that choice makes sense, not just for the Longhorns, but for Manning’s long-term trajectory.
“I would think he’s going to want another year of that growth to put himself in position for hopefully a long career in the NFL,” Sarkisian said, highlighting both Manning’s physical progression and the mental maturation he’s shown over the course of the season. “He’s got some unfinished business of what he came here to do, and what he came here to accomplish.”
Thrust into the spotlight with unmatched expectations, the redshirt sophomore experienced the growing pains that often come with learning a complex offense and leading a roster loaded with new faces. Early in the year, his timing was inconsistent, his decision-making uneven, and his comfort within Sarkisian’s system still a work in progress. Rather than masking those struggles with raw talent alone, Manning embraced them as part of the process.
That process has begun to pay dividends. Over the final stretch of the season, Manning looked increasingly decisive in the pocket, quicker with his reads, and more confident pushing the ball downfield. Sarkisian has repeatedly pointed to that late-season surge as evidence of real growth, noting that the game has started to slow down for his young quarterback. The Arkansas performance wasn’t just a breakout statistically, it was a snapshot of what Manning can become...
