Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) rushes with the ball for a touchdown against the Michigan Wolverines. Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Arch Manning reveals goals for 2026, takes shot at uncle Peyton Manning

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Dec 31, 2025 9:39 PM ET

Peyton Manning played in a different era of college football than his nephew Arch Manning.

When Peyton was the quarterback of the Tennessee Volunteers, bowl season meant a lot. Sure, you wanted to be in the BCS title game picture, but you were also happy if you could end your season with a win in a multitude of "prestigious" bowl games.

The Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and Fiesta Bowl were the "elite" BCS Bowl games that rotated hosting the BCS National Championship Game. The second tier started with the Cotton Bowl and also featured the Peach Bowl and the Citrus Bowl.

Peyton played in the Citrus Bowl twice from 1994 to 1997, winning it both times.

After Arch's Texas Longhorns defeated the Michigan Wolverines in Wednesday night’s Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, 41-27, the younger Manning revealed that he doesn't want to see that level of bowl game again in his Texas career.

“Nothing against the Citrus Bowl, but I think he played it twice,” Manning said, referencing his uncle. “I don’t want to have to play it twice.”

Texas QB Arch Manning ends his press conference with a zinger after he was asked if he had Citrus Bowl bragging rights over Uncle Peyton: “Nothing against the Citrus Bowl, but I think he played it twice. I don't want to have to play it twice.” #HookEm
— Danny Davis (@_dannydavis) January 1, 2026

Manning is truly not taking a shot at the Citrus Bowl. It's just that in the new College Football Playoff system, the Citrus has become a "second-tier" bowl and a consolation prize of sorts for teams that didn't make the CFP but were still interesting.

At 9-3 heading into the bowl game, the Longhorns certainly fit the bill. So did the 9-3 Wolverines.

What Manning is saying here is that in what will likely be his final season in Austin in 2026, he wants to play in the CFP again. Anything less than that, outside of perhaps the Pop-Tarts Bowl (if you know, you know) would be a massive dissapointment for both Manning and the Longhorns.

With that said, he did have a great game against Michigan. Manning completed 21-of-34 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing nine times for 155 yards and two touchdowns.

Perhaps this is the ending of this season that he needs to carry this elite level of play into 2026.

“I felt like I developed a lot this year, especially towards the back half, and I want to keep it going,” Manning recently said. “There’s no reason to leave. I feel like I got a lot more football left to play, and excited to still be a part of this team.”

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

More must-reads: