Archie Manning drops bombshell prediction on Texas QB grandson

Arch Manning is preparing for his first season as a starting quarterback in college, and already, his grandfather is predicting that he will return to Texas after the upcoming campaign.

Manning's grandfather, of course, is former NFL quarterback and College Football Hall of Famer Archie Manning.

Per an article from On3's Nick Schultz, Archie Manning told Texas Monthly that while he hasn't had conversations with his grandson about his future beyond the 2025 season, he believes that Arch Manning will be back with the Longhorns for the 2026 term.

When asked if his grandson would declare for the 2026 NFL Draft after the upcoming season, Archie Manning said, "Arch isn’t going to do that. He’ll be at Texas."

Of course, Archie Manning knows his grandson better than just about anyone. Yet, at the same time, should Arch Manning have a stellar year at Texas, it's entirely possible he could head to the 2026 NFL Draft.

Arch Manning, the 6-foot-4, 219-pound redshirt sophomore from New Orleans, is one of the biggest stories in college football as the 2025 season inches closer.

Manning saw limited duty in 2024 as a backup to Quinn Ewers, but when Ewers got injured, Manning went 2-0 as a starter and played well.

In 2024, as Texas went 13-3 overall and reached the semifinal round of the College Football Playoff, Manning completed 67.8 percent of his passes for 939 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed for 108 yards and four scores on the ground.

Earlier this week, the preseason Coaches Top-25 Poll placed Texas at No. 1, followed by defending national champion Ohio State at No. 2. In the 2025 season opener, the Longhorns will travel to Columbus to face the Buckeyes in what should prove a galactic matchup.

Even though it's his first year as a starter, Manning is one of the early favorites to win the 2025 Heisman Trophy. He's landing on preseason lists as a first-team All-American.

Manning is also getting buzz as one of the top picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. That's assuming Manning declares, which he is eligible for, given this will be his third season in college.

Manning joined Texas after playing at Isidore Newman School in New Orleans. Within the 2023 class, multiple recruiting services rated the five-star Manning as the No. 1 national prospect, along with the No. 1 quarterback and the No. 1 player coming out of Louisiana.

Should Manning lead Texas to a national championship this season, and he's projected as a top-five pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, it would be understandable if he departed the Longhorns for the pro ranks.

Then again, maybe Manning loves being in college. Maybe he loves Austin, Texas. And he's earning big dollars in NIL.