Arch Manning Pushes Back on Family Speculation About 2026 Draft

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jeremy Lockett | Last updated Aug 19, 2025 4:53 PM ET

Arch Manning is putting the brakes on speculation fueled by none other than his grandfather, NFL legend Archie Manning. Weeks ago, Archie told Texas Monthly he expected his grandson to return to Texas for the 2025 season rather than declare for the 2026 NFL Draft.

“Arch isn’t going to do that,” Archie said when asked if his grandson would declare. “He’ll be at Texas.”

Arch Manning pushed back on that claim. “I don’t know where [Archie] got that from. He texted me and apologized about that. I’m really just taking it day by day right now,” Manning said.

Manning’s Future Remains Unclear

The Longhorns quarterback has been cautious about revealing his plans, and his limited college experience adds context to the uncertainty.

Over the past two seasons, Manning has appeared in 12 games with only two starts, throwing for 969 yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions, while also adding 115 rushing yards and four scores.

Still, Manning enters 2025 as a top Heisman Trophy contender, with ESPN listing him at +600 odds. “The narrative of Arch becoming the first Manning to win the Heisman Trophy is also media gold,” ESPN analyst Pamela Maldonado wrote. “Add in a relatively open field, and it’s easy to understand why the public wants this ticket.”

Even if Manning were to capture the Heisman or lead Texas to a national title, there’s a strong case he could return for another season. Doing so would leave him with just 16 potential career starts—an experience level some might consider light for an NFL draft prospect.

Arch’s conversations with his grandfather, however, remain lively. Manning joked about Archie’s typical advice at the end of their calls: “Get down or get out of bounds.”

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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