Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning says he has learned to embrace the spotlight, making the talented SEC squad even more competitive in 2026.
Manning — the nephew of Super Bowl champions Peyton and Eli and grandson of 1971 No. 2 pick Archie — spoke with On3’s Chris Low ahead of the Longhorns spring practice on Saturday (noon ET, SEC Network/ESPN+). The QB admitted that all the attention that comes with the family name overwhelmed him in his first season as a full-time starter in 2025. But now that he’s grown accustomed to it, he believes there’s little that can prevent him from leading Texas to a national title in 2026.
Arch Manning discusses expectations for the 2026 season
“I’m not going to shy away from anything,” Arch Manning said in the story published Wednesday. “People are allowed to say whatever they want. It doesn’t really affect me. I know where I’m going, and no one’s going to stop me. So that’s where I am with all that.”
People called Arch Manning a “flop” after he started the season 3-2 and completed a subpar 44 percent of his passes during a 27-10 win over the UTEP Miners in Week 3.
Arch Manning thanked his teammates for rallying around him during his early struggles and credited them for his late surge. The QB went 7-1 during his last eight starts, which included a 41-27 win over the Michigan Wolverines in the Citrus Bowl, in which he tossed two touchdowns and ran for two more.
