The football bloodlines run deep for quarterback Arch Manning, who’s expected to be the starter for the Texas Longhorns in 2025. The season will be pivotal in terms of when Manning chooses to declare for the NFL Draft.
Highly-Anticipated Quarterback Arch Manning Will Be Eligible For the NFL Sooner Than You’d Think
Manning will be eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft, meaning he may only play one full season as a starter in college football before jetting off to the next level.
To enter the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from high school. Manning, a class of 2023 high school graduate, would fit that description in 2026. If he wishes to forego his final season, he could request approval from the league in order to declare early.
Right now, Manning is the most known backup quarterback in all of college football. The five-star prospect has served behind Quinn Ewers for two seasons in Austin. His time as a starter is coming soon — and it’s highly anticipated across the sport.
In 2024, Manning started two games while Ewers was injured. Texas didn’t miss a beat. In those games, against the lowly UL Monroe Warhawks and Mississippi State Bulldogs, Manning completed 41 of 60 passes for 583 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for a score. The Longhorns won those games by a combined score of 86-16.
When Ewers got healthy, he was back on the bench. At times, he’s come in as a running threat for the Longhorns with mixed success. However, he didn’t play a snap in Texas’s Peach Bowl victory over the Arizona State Sun Devils.
Manning’s talent was showcased in those two September games — some college football analysts have even claimed the Longhorns’ offense has a higher ceiling with the athleticism and arm talent of Manning leading the charge. Yet, head coach Steve Sarkisian has stuck with Ewers.
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Soon enough, Manning’s time will come as the starter. He’s widely expected to be the starter for the 2026 season, regardless of whether Ewers declares for the 2025 NFL Draft, enters the transfer portal, or returns to Austin.
That’s where it becomes an interesting question for Manning. Will he feel comfortable enough with his draft stock to declare early after only one season as the starter? With his above-average athleticism and elite arm talent, there’s already chatter among NFL and college football analysts of him being the potential number-one overall pick and a tanking goal for lowly NFL organizations.
If he chooses not to declare in 2026, Manning would have two years of eligibility remaining. Currently, he’s a redshirt freshman after redshirting in 2023. Although it is unlikely for him to exhaust all years of college football eligibility, he has the option if he so chooses.
One thing is certain: Manning has a lot riding on the 2025 college football season. Only time will tell if he decides to declare for the NFL Draft in 2026 or the years to follow.
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