For as long as he’s been able to hold a football, Texas Longhorns QB1 Arch Manning has had the spotlight. He has long been seen as football royalty, partly because of his potential, but mostly because of his last name.
Manning is, after all, nephew to Peyton and Eli, grandson to Archie, and son of the ever-charismatic Cooper. But with the Manning name comes perks, and sometimes, those perks are just ridiculous.
Cooper Reveals Arch Manning Wasn’t Even in Middle School When the Scholarship Hype Began
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Cooper Manning and his wife, Ellen, spoke about raising their kids in the middle of a “Manning hurricane.”
Cooper and Ellen kept Arch away from phones and cameras as much as possible from a young age, and living in New Orleans helped. Their pace of life was slower, and the spotlight a little softer.
But that did not stop college coaches from coming early to scout. In fact, so early that Manning hadn’t even hit puberty. He had calls coming in when he was in sixth grade. Coaches were reaching out to talk about offers, scholarships, and futures. Cooper, however, shut it down fast.
“I was like, ‘We’re not having any of this scholarship stuff,'” he recalled. “This is ridiculous. He doesn’t even have braces yet.”
Both Cooper and Ellen seem to be protective of normalcy. While Peyton and Eli rewrote NFL history, Cooper’s promising football career was cut short by a spinal condition. Now, Manning is walking the path of football glory.
Manning Set To Officially Begin Starting QB Role at Texas
Manning has officially taken over at Texas. No longer is he waiting behind Quinn Ewers. This fall, Manning is QB1, and there are already talks about him jumping to the 2026 NFL Draft after one full year as the starter.
Former Newman QB Arch Manning is preparing for his first season as @TexasFootball‘s starting QB.
At the Manning Passing Academy, he discussed his support system, how 2024 prepared him for this & more.
“I’m very proud of him” -Peyton Manning
Details: https://t.co/7f1todEoGb pic.twitter.com/mkIQR3B0Ef
— Jon Sokoloff (@JonSokoloff) June 28, 2025
Last season, when Ewers went down with injuries, Manning stepped in and thrived. Manning appeared in 10 games during the 2024 season, completing 61 of 90 passes for 939 yards, nine touchdowns, and just two interceptions. He also rushed for 108 yards and four touchdowns, showcasing his dual-threat ability.
RELATED: ‘I’m Not Worried What Other People Think’ — Texas QB Arch Manning’s Blunt Response to NFL Draft Hype
His most impressive performance came in his two starts against Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State, where he demonstrated poise and playmaking ability beyond his years. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian hasn’t had a single bad word to say about him, training camp reports seem positive, and the fanbase loves him.
The Longhorns are dreaming of their first national title since 2005. Of course, there is still some competition in the quarterback room. Redshirt senior Matthew Caldwell brings experience, sophomore Trey Owens has gotten reps, and true freshman K.J. Lacey cannot be sidelined either.
But for now, Manning is starting for the Longhorns. And if he lives up to his name, he might be going straight to the draft stage after just one season as the full-time starter.