Arch Manning pushes back on Archie Manning’s comments on 2026 NFL Draft, Texas

Arch Manning pushed back at his grandfather Archie’s comments regarding the 2026 NFL Draft. The elder Manning inferred that Arch Manning would not go into the draft in the spring and instead spend another year at Texas.

“Yeah I don’t know where he got that from,” Manning said. “He texted me and apologized about that. I’m really just taking it day by day right now.”

Archie Manning said he did not discuss the topic initially with his grandson. All he said was: “Arch isn’t going to do that. He’ll be at Texas.”

There is certainly a lot of hype surrounding the youngest Manning quarterback. Not only is Texas the preseason No. 1 team in the country, Arch has to pilot the offense in his first year as a starter. After sitting behind Quinn Ewers for two years, many believe Manning is developed and ready to breakout.

That’s why he’s on Heisman watchlists and being draft eligible means he’ll be evaluated for the NFL. A popular connotation is Manning being the top player selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, should he choose to declare.

But, he’s started just two games (last year) in his college career. If he’s as good as advertised, considering he was the No. 1 overall recruit in his class, then perhaps a fourth year in Austin won’t be necessary. Still, there’s be additional whispers that Manning would play in 2026, finishing his collegiate career in its entirety before going pro.

Either way, Manning will command a great deal of attention this Fall. That begins August 30th at Ohio State against the defending national champions.

Manning even impressed former LSU head coach Ed Orgeron. Coach O called Manning, perhaps, just as good as his former QB Joe Burrow, who won the Heisman in 2019-20, led LSU to a national title and was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

“I had an opportunity to go to Texas and speak at the clinic and I watched practice,” Orgeron said on Pardon My Take. “Now, I knew Arch Manning as a young kid from Louisiana. He liked Joe Brady, we watched him. But I watched his practice and I’ll say this conservatively… Arch is as close to, or maybe as good, as Joe as I’ve seen. I’ve never said that about anyone.”