Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian just confirmed speculation about Arch Manning’s future as quarterback of the Longhorns
While everyone is anticipating what will happen with Texas in 2026, some are wondering about the future of the head coach and quarterback positions in Austin. Well, Steve Sarkisian just leaned all the way in to some of the talk.
The Texas Longhorns are one of the favorites to win the College Football Playoff National Championship when it’s all set and done, come January of 2027. But there are already a lot of questions about what will happen after that.
Will Sark go to the NFL? Will he be forced out if the Longhorns fall short again? And what is going to happen with Arch Manning? Well, Steve Sarkisian isn’t ready to rule out anything as of yet.
Arch Manning 2025 Stats
- 3,163 passing yards.
- 26 touchdowns.
- 7 interceptions.
Steve Sarkisian hints at possible Arch Manning return in 2027
“You know, we haven’t had the discussion, but I will tell you, I would not be surprised,” Sarkisian told Kay Adams of the Up and Adams show when asked about Arch Manning returning in 2027. “I think Arch really loves college football, I really do. I think he loves the University of Texas, you know, he does pretty good through NIL, you know, he’s got some pretty good endorsements going right now, which is a credit to him.”
It’s funny to hear Sark say Manning does “pretty good through NIL” when it’s been widely reported that Manning is among the top, if not the highest-earning players in the country when it comes to NIL. The bigger question, however, is why would Manning return?
What would make Arch Manning return in 2027?
If you think back to this time last year, Manning was widely believed to be among the top prospects in a loaded quarterback class. That obviously fell on its face pretty fast, as the rest of the group didn’t pan out and Manning returned to Texas after some early-season struggles.
Manninng turned it up a notch down the stretch, and he clearly improved upon struggles that had some wondering what was going on during that Ohio State game. If he levels up on the back half of the season, there is no doubt he will be a first-rounder.
But there are already some people in and around the league who are not on the hype train. If he struggles again in 2026 and the Longhorns were to miss the CFP despite a loaded roster, I could see Manning deciding that he wants to return another year.
You also have to consider what teams will be drafting high, if Manninng does declare. He may decide to head back to Texas if the team with the top pick isn’t to his or his family’s liking.
Safe to say that everything is on the table.