Former NFL QB thinks Ohio State is a fit for Arch Manning in the transfer portal if he leaves Texas
Arch Manning very well could leave Texas after this season, but not for the NFL. Transfer portal possibilities are legit with Manning, but what if he lands in Columbus?
The Ohio State Buckeyes still have a 2026 season to finish and a College Football Playoff run to chase. Ohio State is likely to do it the rest of the way without quarterback Julian Sayin, who went down with a serious arm injury and has little chance of playing again this season, if at all.
There’s a real chance Sayin has played his last bit of football for Ohio State. Coming off a serious injury, it would be a tough sell for Ohio State coach Ryan Day to hand the keys back to Sayin in 2027 without knowing what he would look like on the other side of it.
Ohio State faces a quarterback decision this winter
The timing makes this even more complicated. Day and his staff will have to make a call in a couple of months when the transfer portal opens. If the Buckeyes decide Sayin isn’t going to be the guy next year, they’ll need to go out and land a quality starter at the position.
Sayin is likely to return to college football for another season rather than enter the NFL, but there’s a good chance it won’t be in Columbus.
If Ohio State does go shopping for a starting quarterback, it’s going to have a chance to land a really good one. It’s Ohio State, after all. Several big names should be available, and the biggest could be current Texas quarterback Arch Manning.
Arch Manning floated as a potential fit for the Buckeyes
Manning hasn’t developed into the elite quarterback many expected during his two years as the starter at Texas. His fit in Steve Sarkisian’s offense doesn’t look like it’s enough to make him the top NFL draft pick that many thought he could become.
Manning will have one more year of college eligibility left after this season. ESPN football analyst Dan Orlovsky, a former NFL quarterback, floated Ohio State as a potential landing spot for Manning. Orlovsky doesn’t believe Manning should head to the NFL or return to Texas next year.
Ohio State didn’t recruit Manning heavily coming out of high school because his family was set on him playing in the South. That could change if he ends up looking for a new home in the transfer portal. Manning is 1-1 in his career against Ohio State as a starter with 366 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and two interceptions in total.
The numbers help explain why a change of scenery could make sense. Manning has 1,295 passing yards and 11 touchdowns through six games this season. In 2025, he was solid with 3,163 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also brings dual-threat ability that would give Day plenty to work with.
Ohio State has had portal QB success before
The Buckeyes have gone the transfer route at quarterback before and it paid off. Will Howard came to Columbus a couple of years ago, and he was a much smaller name than Manning. Howard left Columbus after one season with a national championship.
Taking on Manning would mean Ohio State believes it can develop him and get more out of him than what he’s shown to this point. Day has a track record of working with quarterbacks and turning them into first-round picks. Manning would perhaps be the most intriguing project of them all.
This transfer portal season in January is shaping up to be one of the wildest yet. With a very real chance the Buckeyes have a need at quarterback next year, you can’t rule anything out, so don’t be surprised if Ohio State’s name comes up in connection with Manning.
