The 2025 season was Arch Manning’s first year as the full-time starting QB at Texas. At 9-3, the Longhorns finished fifth in the SEC. Additionally, they missed out on the college football playoffs.
As a redshirt sophomore, Arch Manning could declare for the 2026 NFL draft. However, the 21-year-old plans on returning to Austin for another year. On Monday, ESPN’s Dave Wilson spoke with Arch’s father, Cooper, via text. Wilson confirmed that Cooper Manning said, “Arch is playing football at Texas next year.” That put to bed any doubts about his commitment to the Longhorns.
Arch Manning will play for the Texas Longhorns in 2026
Texas QB Arch Manning will return to school for the 2026 season, Cooper Manning, Arch’s dad, confirmed to ESPN’s Dave Wilson on Monday night.
More: https://t.co/iMSWNmaASW pic.twitter.com/64AGSTHrFi
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 16, 2025
Coming out of the high school Class of 2023, Arch Manning was a highly touted recruit. He committed to Texas despite the team already having a starting QB in Quin Ewers. Arch Manning appeared in just two games during the 2023 season. That was a redshirt year for the young QB. His 2024 campaign was his first official season with Texas and Quin Ewers’ last. Manning was primed to be their starter in 2025.
That’s the role he played for the Longhorns during his 2025 campaign. In 12 regular-season games, Arch Manning led Texas to a 9-3 record. If not for a loss to Florida earlier in the year, Texas would have likely made the college football playoff. Arch Manning and the Longhorns have some unfinished business to take care of.
BREAKING: QB Arch Manning is returning to Texas for the 2026 season, his father Cooper told ESPN.
Manning led the Longhorns to a 9-3 record and 13th-ranked finish. pic.twitter.com/LXNUIkXoYc
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) December 16, 2025
On Monday, it was announced that Arch Manning is returning to Texas for the 2026 season. That will be his junior year. ESPN’s Dave Wilson confirmed this with Arch’s father, Cooper, via text. Ahead of their bowl game on December 31, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian had high praise for the young QB. He said Arch Manning is “a young man who’s gotten better as the season’s gone on, and not only physically, but mentally, maturity-wise.”
In his first full season as Texas’s starting QB, Arch Manning threw for 2,942 yards. He completed 61.4% of his passes. Additionally, Manning threw for 24 passing touchdowns and seven interceptions. Two of those seven interceptions happened in his final seven games.
Arch Manning was playing efficient football in the second half of the year. Arch added 83 carries for 244 yards and eight rushing touchdowns in 2025. He’ll look to build off those numbers as he returns to Texas in 2026.
