Arch Manning Could Leave Texas Without Entering NFL Draft

Arch Manning of the Texas Longhorns looks to pass during a college football game.© X/@redraiderman1

Arch Manning entered the 2026 college football season with expectations of becoming the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. Six games into the season, that projection looked far less certain. Consecutive losses to Oklahoma and Florida hurt Texas, while Manning's mistakes raised questions about his readiness for the professional level. With backup KJ Lacey receiving first-team practice reps before the Ole Miss game, ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky offered another possibility: Manning could leave Texas and spend another year at a different college program instead of turning pro.

Why Arch Manning could skip the NFL Draft

Orlovsky questioned whether Texas remained the right place for Manning to develop. He argued that the quarterback needed an offense that would let him use his full skill set rather than limit him to passing from the pocket.

"I do not believe Arch should go to the NFL. I believe Arch should leave Texas and go to a place that can adamantly develop him as a quarterback, that gives you the ability to play quarterback," Orlovsky said.

The former NFL quarterback did not see Manning's struggles as a problem that could be blamed on the player alone. He questioned if head coach Steve Sarkisian's offensive approach suited the young quarterback, particularly given his ability to run and throw on the move.

A transfer destination has already entered the conversation. NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero said someone close to Manning had suggested Ole Miss as a possible landing spot. Manning's grandfather, Archie, and uncle Eli both starred for the Rebels, although no transfer decision has been announced.

Former NFL quarterback Eli Manning has backed the idea of using college football to improve before entering the league. Speaking on the Colin Cowherd Podcast earlier this month, he said he was proud of how his nephew had handled the pressure and remained focused on his current season.

Arch Manning's struggles raise questions about his NFL readiness

Manning's numbers show how much his season has changed from the expectations surrounding him before kickoff. In 2025, he threw for 3,163 yards, 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Through six games in 2026, he had 1,295 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions.

The problems went beyond the passing numbers. NFL writer Rob Rang noted that Manning had been sacked 17 times in six games and struggled to stay composed when defenses pressured him. His fourth-quarter interceptions against Oklahoma hurt Texas in a 23-21 defeat, while a late fumble against Florida contributed to another loss, 27-24.

Texas had fallen to No. 19 in the AP Top 25 after reaching No. 1 earlier in the season. Sarkisian continued to back Manning publicly but acknowledged that the quarterback needed to improve.

"There's no doubt about it, Arch can play better for us, but he's our starter," Sarkisian said before the Ole Miss matchup. "We need to see a better version of him this week."