NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
Before the college football season began, Arch Manning was in the conversation to be the top pick in this year’s draft, despite only having three starts under his belt.
Well, that talk died down quickly, as Manning and the Longhorns battled.
Texas and the former five-star recruit found a way late, but in the end, it wasn’t enough to earn a trip to the College Football Playoff.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
Arch Manning of the Texas Longhorns warms up before the game against the UTSA Roadrunners at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 14, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Tim Warner/Getty Images)
After the season, Manning announced his intention to remain in school, but his father, Cooper, said that decision was made a long time ago.
When asked in a recent interview if Arch “always stayed in school,” the father responded, “Yes.”
“I grew up listening to my parents talk about how wonderful college was, I still love my years in college, Eli was there for five years, Peyton was four. It’s a really fun and special time in your life. The idea of rushing and trying to get out of there seems a little silly to me,” Cooper continued.
Arch Manning (left) chats with his father Cooper Manning before the Big 12 football game between the TCU Horned Frogs and the Texas Longhorns on November 12, 2022 at Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. (John Rivera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
GOVERNORS BRAUN AND DESANTIS MAKE A ‘FRIENDLY BET’ ON THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BETWEEN MIAMI AND INDIANA
“I know how challenging the next level is. So savor every moment of college. If you’re lucky enough to go to the University of Texas and hang out in Austin, Texas, where people like you and you can play football and go to these big SEC cities and compete at the highest level with your teammates and with your great friends, shoot, why would anyone want to hurry up and get out of that?”
In all likelihood, Manning will come out of it in 2027, and is believed to be at the top of the draft board, just like his uncles.
One of those guys in Eli, however, played his cards and refused to play for the San Diego Chargers, who had the number one pick. The Chargers drafted him anyway, but sent him to the New York Giants.
Could Arch do the same?
“I have no idea,” Cooper said.
Texas quarterback Arch Manning (16) warms up before a Mississippi State NCAA college football game in Starkville, Mississippi, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/James Pugh)
“Anything beyond spring football right now is too far away to even think about. He’s enjoying the big win over Michigan and seeing some new players come in, saying goodbye to some guys in this portal and hoping to make new teammates, great friends and vice versa. So let’s not look too far into the football world. Keep it simple and keep your head down, and everything should work out.”
