Steve Sarkisian has been vocal about his admiration for Arch Manning and has empathized with the kind of year the Texas quarterback had time and time again.
Manning was among the most hyped players before the 2025 college football season began, with analysts predicting him to lead the Longhorns to the College Football Playoff, win the Heisman Trophy, and even get picked as the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
During Friday’s conversation with Urban Meyer, Steve Sarkisian spoke about the pressure that Manning had to deal with in the 2025 season because of the team’s subpar offense.
“So what happened last year was Arch kind of had to bear all the weight of all that. His legs had to have an impact in running the ball to create explosive plays,” Sarkisian said on The Triple Option podcast. “His ability to make throws into tight quarters and under duress was something he had to do. And I thought he really elevated his game in the second half of the season, and we’d be paying more explosives, but to rely just on him wasn’t fair to him.
“And so I think surrounding him with more explosive playmakers, solidifying things up front, making sure the run game is where it needs to be, and having the ability to run the football when they know you’re going to run the football.”
Manning’s performance in the first few games last year was disappointing to many fans and analysts. However, he eventually found his rhythm and ended the season with 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions while throwing for 3,163 yards.
Steve Sarkisian Keeps the Door Open for Arch Manning’s Potential Return in 2027
During a conversation on “Up and Adams” on June 15, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian spoke about Arch Manning’s plans for after the 2026 college football season.
Sarkisian said that while he hasn’t had the conversation with Manning yet, he wouldn’t be surprised if the Longhorns star skipped the 2027 NFL draft to come back to college for another year.
Sarkisian explained that he believes Manning loves college football and the University of Texas, two of several factors that could play a role in his decision to return to college.
“I would not be surprised,” he said. “I think Arch really loves college football, I really do. I think he loves the University of Texas. He does pretty good through NIL, you know, he’s got some pretty good endorsements going right now, which is a credit to him and obviously the lineage of the last name and the brand of the University of Texas, all of those things coming together.”
Manning is projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL draft.
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