“Most kids that are highly recruited, if they don’t play in their first or second year, they usually transfer out,” Peyton Manning said back in 2025. “It’s why I went to Tennessee, I wanted to go to school there. It’s why Arch went to Texas, because he wanted to go to Texas, and play for Steve Sarkisian.”

Coach Sarkisian is well known for his offensive-minded approach and has helped develop quarterbacks such as Quinn Ewers, who eventually made his way to the NFL after being drafted by the Miami Dolphins. Manning, meanwhile, appears to be making the most of his talent at Texas.

Some have also suggested that Arch sought, in some way, to take a different path from his uncles. Joining Tennessee, or the Ole Miss Rebels like Eli, might have meant carrying an additional level of pressure, whereas beginning his college career at Texas allowed him to start from a clean slate.

Sarkisian is a great ally for Arch

Steve Sarkisian is pretty much the ultimate head coach to unlock Arch Manning’s full potential, operating as one of the sharpest offensive minds and quarterback developers in all of college football. Sark’s play-calling genius—built on heavy pre-snap motion, clever play-action schemes, and NFL-style spatial concepts—creates a high-powered scheme tailor-made for a quarterback with Arch’s processing speed and big arm.

Beyond the playbook, Sarkisian’s proven track record of refining elite passers and managing high-stakes pressure gives Arch the perfect environment to sharpen his mechanics, read defenses like a pro, and comfortably step into the family legacy without missing a beat.

Peyton’s legacy at Tennessee

Peyton Manning’s time with the Tennessee Volunteers is the ultimate blueprint for college football royalty, defined by elite preparation and absolute mastery of the SEC. Stepping in as a freshman in 1994, he quickly transformed the Vols into a national powerhouse, steering Knoxville through a golden era while racking up a dominant 39-6 record as a starter.

Over his four-year run, Peyton shredded defenses to the tune of 11,201 passing yards and 89 touchdowns—both school records—while orchestrating offenses with the kind of pre-snap chess moves that would later become his NFL trademark.

His legendary college path peaked in 1997 when he led Tennessee to an SEC Championship, swept individual honors by winning the Maxwell and Davey O’Brien Awards, finished as the Heisman Trophy runner-up, and cemented #16 as an untouchable icon in Rocky Top history.

Eli made his mark at Ole Miss

Taking on the Ole Miss quarterback job with the surname “Manning” on his jersey meant Eli was under the microscope from day one, but he handled the Oxford pressure like an absolute natural. Instead of being defined by his lineage, he completely reset expectations for Rebels football, elevating the program with his smooth pocket presence, clutch gene, and ridiculous arm strength.

By the time he threw his last pass in blue and red, Eli had completely taken over the school record books with 10,119 passing yards and 81 touchdown passes. The pinnacle of his college journey came in 2003, when he dragged Ole Miss to a 10-win season, capped it off with a Cotton Bowl victory, earned SEC Offensive Player of the Year, and claimed the prestigious Maxwell Award—proving beyond doubt that he was a star in his own right.

Key takeaways

• Arch Manning joined Texas over Tennessee in the 2023 recruiting class.
• Peyton Manning stated in 2025 that Arch wanted to play for Steve Sarkisian.
• Joining Texas allowed Arch to start from a clean slate away from his uncles.

“Most of my advice is more football stuff. He’ll have to figure out that media on his own and a lot of it is just kind of growing pains. You feel like [the media’s] your pal, you relax with them a little bit, you try to be funny, and then they can take it and run,” Eli Manning admitted, via Front Office Sports.

“You’ve got to be careful, you’ve got to find your moments when you can be funny and relaxed. There’s certain things that you’ve got to learn and deal with it. I think he has learned and apologized, and did the right steps handling that.“

Arch Manning may be one of the biggest household names in college football and has been in the national spotlight for some time, but he is still a young player discovering the lay of the land. Going through the trials and tribulations of a college experience that not many NCAA athletes can relate to, Arch is not alone, though.

Arch has helping hands all around him

At times, it might sound as if he’s being scolded, but in truth, it shows he has people around him who care. That’s the case with Eli’s latest message, as well as the support he always gets from his father Cooper, uncle Peyton and grandfather Archie.

Even Steve Sarkisian’s recent ultimatum for Manning ahead of Texas vs. Tennessee is a sign that the Longhorns’ program is looking after what’s best for their quarterback. When it’s all put together, it’s encouraging, and it may reveal that Arch is destined for great things in college football and perhaps at the next level, too.

Arch Manning changed entirely after controversy

Following a lackluster performance during Texas’ 30-6 win over UTSA, Manning attended a press conference on Monday. It was his first face-to-face, lengthy meeting with the media after his comment about an AI-generated video raised eyebrows and led to a blown-out-of-proportion witch hunt against the heir to football’s royal quarterback family.

Once bitten, twice shy, Manning turned three times shy. He looked like a completely different personality, turning away from the funny remarks he’d made on another occasion. His short, straight-out-of-a-cassette answers made waves all over social media, as many fans and reporters lamented that Arch’s personality appeared to be censored.

From now on, it seems Manning will only say as little as possible to string together an answer out of respect for reporters’ questions, but will give away nothing more.

Manning’s press conference stats

According to CBS Austin’s Bob Ballou, Manning answered a total of 19 questions with just 56 seconds of answers during his Monday press conference. That’s less than a three-second average answer.

To say Manning has become laconic would be an understatement. And all for a comment—that was clearly intended as a joke but was read too much into—from a 22-year-old who had a laugh out of an AI-generated, absurd video.

Key takeaways

• Eli Manning advised his nephew to be careful, noting media can take comments and run.
• A public comment regarding an AI-generated video resulted in widespread media controversy and an apology.
• During a recent press conference, Arch Manning answered 19 questions in just 56 seconds.

“I would like for [Manning] to be smarter when he runs,” Sarkisian said during his press conference, via On Texas Football reporter CJ Vogel. Sarkisian still had a lot of praise of what Manning can do on the ground, and it may be a big factor against No. 14 Tennessee on Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

“[Arch Manning] doesn’t play the position like a robot, he uses his legs to his advantage, but he doesn’t use his legs all of the time. Using those at opportune times is beneficial for him and for us,” Sarkisian said.

Following the statement win over Ohio State, expectations were high for Manning and Texas against UTSA at home. However, the Longhorns’ quarterback and the rest of the offense looked a step off their A-game. The Horns had no turnovers, but came awfully close several times. Manning finished the night with a 30.7 QB Rating, but perhaps the lowlight of the game was a play in which he scrambled for a first down on a third-and-one situation.

Close call for Manning

After picking up the first down, Manning showed no regard for his health and ran right into trouble, where he was sandwiched by two defenders. His helmet popped up and off his head, putting him in a very compromising position. Most likely, that was the play in Sarkisian’s mind when he ordered Arch to be smart with his legs.

Against the Roadrunners, the heir to football’s royal quarterback family got away with his misjudged decision. Against Tennessee, another SEC opponent, or a powerhouse across college football, he may not enjoy similar luck, and that’s the last thing Sarkisian and the Longhorns need in 2026.

The Volunteers are second among SEC programs in sacks made this season (13, only behind LSU’s 14). With the Vols getting to opposing quarterbacks as often and efficiently as they do, Manning can’t take any more unnecessary hits, especially not in the open field.

Arch Manning in Knoxville

Although it’s become routine for Manning, the national spotlight will be fixed upon him on Saturday in Knoxville. Arch will play at Neyland Stadium, where his uncle Peyton Manning became a legend, for the first time in his college football career. Ahead of such a special, hair-standing, nerves-wracking game, Sarkisian had some great piece of advice for his talented signal-caller.

“I think that it’s important for him to not try to be something that doesn’t best suit him. I want him to be him, to be Arch Manning. I don’t want him to be Archie, Peyton, or Eli. I don’t want him to be Colt McCoy or Vince Young. I want him to be Arch Manning, and Arch Manning is plenty good enough for us to put us in a position to win.”

Such a statement from his head coach would be extremely useful and reassuring on any given week in the NCAA schedule. However, it bears extra weight and meaning as Arch comes off a lackluster showing against an inferior opponent and must turn the page entirely before entering a hostile environment in Knoxville, a city forever intertwined with his family’s legacy but that will show no love to Peyton’s nephew on Saturday.

As the saying in George R. R. Martin’s best-selling series, A Game of Thrones, goes, “There must always be a Stark in Winterfell,” the same could be said about a Manning in Knoxville. However, Arch chose to play for a different UT in college football, and his path has only crossed with the Vols in 2026, three years after he enrolled at Texas and became a Longhorn. There will be a Manning in Knoxville, but in the body of an unwelcome guest.

Key takeaways

• Steve Sarkisian urged his quarterback to be smarter when running.
• The Volunteers currently rank second among SEC programs with 13 recorded sacks.
• Texas faces Tennessee at Neyland Stadium following a victory over UTSA.

“I’m disappointed in how I played and how we played. Got to be better,” Manning stated during his press conference once the game concluded. It is clear that the quarterback’s high standards for himself do not allow him to have any dips in his performance.

A winning team needs players with a winning mentality. The Longhorns have that type of leader in Manning, who is looking to take his game to the highest level in pursuit of great things in the NCAAF.

Why was Manning not satisfied?

Arch Manning went 16-of-32 for 161 yards, two touchdown passes to Isaiah Coleman, and an interception in Texas’ 30-6 win over UTSA. Despite getting the W and throwing those early TDs, Arch wasn’t too thrilled with how things played out.

He struggled to build rhythm while under constant pressure, took a beating behind a shaky offensive line, and missed a bunch of throws that kept the Longhorns from pulling away earlier. Between the continuous scrambles, heavy hits, and a sub-50% completion rate, it definitely felt like a frustrating and sloppy outing for him.

Sarkisian prepares for what’s ahead

While the Longhorns have started their season undefeated, it is clear that the competition is very even and they cannot afford to let their guard down. Steve Sarkisian, the mastermind behind this team, made that clear to the media following the win over UTSA.

“Anybody can beat anybody in the SEC. We’ve learned that, so we’ve got to get ourselves ready to go in all three phases come next Saturday,” the head coach stated.

What’s next for Texas?

The Longhorns are heading into a brutal three-game stretch. It all kicks off this Saturday, September 26th, with a road test against Tennessee at Neyland Stadium—a hostile environment to see what this team is made of away from home.

After a well-timed bye week to tweak the offense, they gear up for the main event on October 10th: the Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl, that neutral-site classic that always turns into a total pressure cooker. To cap off the run, Texas returns to Austin on October 17th to host Florida for what should be another high-intensity SEC clash.

Through her official X account, Rowe reposted Manning’s message and thanked him for his apology: “Thank you Arch. I appreciate our conversation about this, which will remain private. Apology accepted. We move forward with respect and and kindness for one another.”

Rowe’s years of experience in the media led her to put an end to this unfortunate episode. For Manning, the next step is to learn from what happened and make sure he doesn’t repeat the same mistakes.

Sarkisian’s snub

In an era when social media and artificial intelligence are part of everyday life, the recent incident at the Longhorns’ stadium did not go unnoticed. Following the thrilling victory over the Buckeyes, Rowe attempted to interview Steve Sarkisian, who, caught up in the excitement, quickly walked away. The moment was then parodied by various users, including one AI-generated version that ultimately prompted a reaction from Arch Manning.

Eyes on what’s ahead

After knocking off the Ohio State Buckeyes in that thriller, the Texas Longhorns can breathe a quick sigh of relief before the heat turns back up. They get a manageable tune-up against the UTSA Roadrunners back at DKR to keep the momentum rolling, but nobody’s taking their eyes off what’s right around the corner.

A brutal SEC road trip to Knoxville to face the Tennessee Volunteers comes next, followed by a bye week to prep for the annual Red River brawl with the Oklahoma Sooners at the Cotton Bowl. Safe to say Coach Sark and the boys can’t afford any emotional hangover with that gauntlet waiting for them.

“So proud of our guys,” Manning said to the reporters once the game concluded. “In all three phases. It wasn’t very pretty but we found a win to win. That’s what good teams do.”

In some way, No. 16 made it clear that they got revenge for what happened the last time the Longhorns and Buckeyes met on the field: “We couldn’t lose to them again. I had nightmares about that game last year. So, we’re glad to get a win tonight. We’ll have a good night in Austin.”

Manning’s performance against Ohio State

Arch Manning had a wild night in Texas’ epic 24-23 comeback win vs Buckeyes, proving he’s got that clutch gene when it matters most. After a brutal start where the Longhorns found themselves trailing 23-3 entering the fourth quarter, Arch completely flipped the script.

He finished the game 23-of-37 for 196 passing yards, one touchdown, and an early interception. The stat line overall looks pretty average on paper, but his fourth-quarter heroics were insane: he went 8-for-11 for 91 yards down the stretch, throwing a slick 3-yard TD pass to Ryan Wingo and pulling off two massive fourth-down conversions to seal the largest fourth-quarter comeback against a No. 1 team in history.

What’s next for the Longhorns?

Two wins in two games, and the contender label is slowly beginning to be applied to Steve Sarkisian’s team. These are the upcoming games the Longhorns have ahead, as they look to continue building on their winning record.

• vs UTSA, September 19
• at Tennessee, September 26
• vs Oklahoma, October 10 (Cotton Bowl)
• vs Florida, October 17
• vs Ole Miss, October 24

Sarkisian wants to face the best

The nature of college football often leads programs to face teams from higher tiers, as well as weaker opponents. Sarkisian, an experienced coach, does not want to take the easy route. Instead, he chooses to face quality opponents and set the bar as high as possible.

“We could be like other teams and play Jones Junior High tonight and win 66–0. I don’t know what that does for us. What I think it does for us, is we found out we can (win big games),” Coach Sark revealed during his press conference.

For Ohio State, the matchup represents an early opportunity to strengthen its position as the No. 1 team in the country. A victory on the road against another top-five program would immediately give the Buckeyes one of the strongest wins available on their résumé and could keep them firmly in control of the national championship conversation.

Texas, meanwhile, has an opportunity to make one of the biggest statements of the season. The Longhorns are already ranked No. 4, but beating the No. 1 team at home would dramatically elevate their résumé and could establish them as one of the favorites to reach the College Football Playoff. The result could also have a significant effect on both teams’ rankings heading into Week 3.

What happens if Texas loses vs Ohio State today?

If Texas loses to Ohio State, the Buckeyes would emerge with arguably the most valuable win of the early 2026 season. Beating a top-four opponent on the road would give Ohio State an enormous résumé boost and strengthen its case to remain No. 1 in the AP Top 25. More importantly, it would give the Buckeyes a major advantage in the race for a high College Football Playoff seed.

Texas would suffer its first loss of the season, but the damage would not necessarily end its playoff hopes. Losing to the No. 1 team would be far less damaging than falling to an unranked opponent, especially if the Longhorns remain competitive throughout the game. However, Texas would likely fall several spots in the rankings and would have less room for error during the rest of the season.

What happens if Texas wins vs Oho State today?

If Texas defeats Ohio State, the Longhorns would make an enormous statement by taking down the No. 1 team in the country at home. A win of that magnitude would likely push Texas into the top spot or very close to it in the AP Top 25, depending on how the rest of the weekend unfolds. It would also immediately become the centerpiece of the Longhorns’ playoff résumé.

For Ohio State, the consequences would be much more significant. The Buckeyes would lose their No. 1 ranking and suffer their first defeat of the season, while Texas would take over the spotlight in the national championship race. Ohio State would still have plenty of time to recover, but its margin for error would become smaller, particularly if other Big Ten contenders continue winning.

Texas would have everything to gain from this result because a win over Ohio State could provide the kind of résumé foundation that separates playoff contenders from the rest of the field. The Longhorns would still need to navigate the SEC schedule, but beating the No. 1 team would put them in an extremely strong position for the CFP conversation and could make them one of the teams to beat nationally.

What happens if Ohio State and Texas tie today?

If Ohio State and Texas are tied after regulation, the game would not finish as a tie. College football uses overtime to determine a winner, with both teams getting opportunities to score until one team finishes the overtime period ahead.

“Did some really good things in the first game of the year this past Saturday. He can beat you with his legs. He can beat you down field. He can make the throws when he needs to. He’s really improved,” the head coach said via on3.com.

Day also added: “And giving him a lot of credit for putting the work in, and then also give Sark and his staff credit for continuing to develop him. So he’s gonna have a great season, and he’s gonna be a great challenge for our defense.”

Visiting Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium is always a risky proposition for any team, even for a contender like the Buckeyes. Ryan Day is expecting a great spectacle in Texas: “Everybody’s getting fired up to go play down there.”

Ryan Day’s record against the Longhorns

Ryan Day boasts a perfect 2-0 record against the Longhorns as head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes. His first victory came in the 2024 College Football Playoff semifinals, where Ohio State ended Texas’ season with a 28-14 win.

He followed that up in the 2025 season opener, guiding the Buckeyes to a 14-7 victory over Steve Sarkisian‘s squad in Columbus. Day has consistently had the upper hand against the Longhorns in these high-stakes, marquee matchups, holding a pristine mark as they head into their next scheduled showdown in Austin.

Manning had a smooth debut

Arch Manning kicked off Texas’ 2026 season in dominant fashion, leading the Longhorns to a 59-7 blowout victory against Texas State. Playing with sharp efficiency before resting in the third quarter, Manning completed 20 of 27 passes (74.1%) for 305 yards, throwing 4 touchdowns and just 1 interception for an impressive 210.4 passer rating.

A highly anticipated showdown

Nearly 100,000 fans are expected to attend the highly anticipated showdown between Texas and Ohio State, with an even larger audience expected to watch the game on television. “I bet there’s close to 20 million people that watch this game,” Sarkisian said to the press. “That’s pretty cool when you think about it.”

Asked about the biggest controversy in Week 1 of the NCAA campaign, Michigan‘s last-second Hail Mary victory over Western Michigan in Ann Arbor, Sarkisian delivered a sincere, confused answer that only expressed concern about the Big Ten officiating crew responsible for adding one second to the clock and allowing the miraculous touchdown catch.

“I still don’t understand or get the final ruling of it all,” Sarkisian said about the controversial call, via On Texas Football. “Unfortunate for Western Michigan, to play their tails off the way that they did and to lose like that.

“I’ve lost a game on a Hail Mary before and that definitely sucks. I don’t know the exact ruling on the timing. There’s a lot of moving parts that I’m not going to pretend to know everything about. My biggest shock was that they stormed the field.”

Sarkisian’s comments mean more before Ohio State game

With the matchup against the Buckeyes looming on the immediate horizon, Sarkisian’s statement on the officiating crew carries much more weight. Hosting No. 1 Ohio State, there is a lot for No. 5 Texas to be anxious about.

Not only will the Longhorns be taking on whom Sarkisian considers to be the best wide receiver in college football in Jeremiah Smith, but they’ll also face a squad filled with five-star talents that defeated Texas and really made the Longhorns look bad last NCAA season.

In addition to it all, the game at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium will be officiated by a Big Ten crew. That means Sarkisian’s comments on Michigan’s controversial win also hide a dig at those who will be responsible for Texas’ fate next Saturday. By all looks of it, it sure feels like Sarkisian and the burnt orange are keeping their guards up.

Why is Big Ten officiating Ohio State at Texas?

This was agreed upon by both schools when they committed to the home-and-home series for the 2025 and 2026 college football seasons. It’s a common practice across the country for the visiting team’s conference to provide the officiating crew, and this is no different. In fact, it was an SEC officiating crew that was in charge last year when the Buckeyes defeated the Longhorns 14-7 in Week 1.

“I think, one, he garners your attention, and he deserves our attention,” coach Sark, per Chase Brown of Eleven Warriors. “He’s arguably the best player in college football. The challenge is, with him, it’s the size, speed, catch radius. He’s a big, physical guy who can cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time. It doesn’t always look like it, but it almost feels like it. You can feel his presence on the field.”

Smith is one of the top prospects for the upcoming NFL Draft, thanks to his physical attributes and exceptional talent, which stand out among the receivers in this class. Sarkisian even went as far as comparing him to established stars such as Julio Jones and A.J. Brown.

“When you just talk about body structure, this guy looks like Julio Jones, this guy looks like AJ Brown physically,” the head coach added. “He can cover ground and then, because he’s so strong, 50-50 catches are difficult with him. You have to have a plan.”

How does Sarkisian plan to stop Smith?

Sarkisian made it clear that stopping Smith requires a solid game plan. Names such as Bo Mascoe and Kade Phillips, along with Jelani McDonald and Xavier Filsaime, could be the players tasked with executing it, but they will have to be precise.

“I think like anything when you have a plan against somebody like him, you can’t just throw all fastballs,” Sarkisian said. “As good as a fastball as you have, if that’s all you got, sooner or later you’re gonna hit it.”

An early championship clash

The Longhorns are set to host Ohio State on Saturday, September 12, 2026, under the lights at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin. Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM ET, and with a sellout crowd of over 100,000 fans expected, the energy in Austin is going to be absolutely off the charts.

Smith’s projection for the upcoming Draft

Jeremiah Smith is projected as an early first-round selection in the 2027 NFL Draft, with most evaluators placing him as a top-two overall prospect. Scouts consider him a rare talent at wide receiver due to his size, route-running precision, and physical dominance at the catch point. Unless a quarterback-needy team holds the top pick, he is widely expected to be the first non-quarterback off the board.

Per Ryan Fowler of NBC Sports Philadelphia, the Giants were among two teams present in the Texas game vs Texas State. The player they were watching: Longhorns WR Cam Coleman. The other team was the Green Bay Packers.

Coleman is one of the best prospects for next year’s NFL Draft in the wideout position. However, he’s been overshadowed by Jeremiah Smith, who is battling Malachi Toney for the Heisman. The Giants, though, think he could be available.

How did Coleman do vs Texas State?

Coleman didn’t see much action due to the blowout. Still, he showed the Giants why he is valued as a first-round pick. Coleman decimated Texas State in only three catches. On those three catches, he racked up 70 yards and two touchdowns.

Texas’ other WR also shone. Ryan Wingo had seven catches for 121 yards and one touchdown. Wingo will also be available in the 2027 NFL Draft. However, Wingo is projected to be a Day 2 selection.

Why would the Giants look for new WRs?

Malik Nabers and Malachi Fields are the two top wideouts on the Giants roster. Both are on their rookie deals, so why would they be eyeing a guy like Cam Coleman? Well, because the rest of the WR room is very old or on short-term deals.

Hence, people like Odell Beckham Jr., Darius Slayton, Darnell Mooney, and Braxton Berrios could pass the baton to a rookie Coleman. However, Coleman is expected to be a first-half of the round pick. It would be a grand investment.