Introduction to Arch Madness
Arch Madness is already at Defcon 3, and the season hasn’t even started. First, a “Texas Monthly” profile caused an international ruckus when Arch Manning’s grandfather, the patron Saint, said the kid would be back for the ’26 season at Texas. Not so fast, it turns out. Cooper, Arch’s dad, recently lamented the “craziness” of it all to our Brad Townsend. In ESPN’s 5,000-word opus this week, the family tries to come to terms with how a kid with two starts under his belt became all that. Like when Arch’s autographed likeness went for six figures in a charity auction, a couple grand more than Luka Doncic’s.
The Manning Family Legacy
From The Dallas Morning News alum Dave Wilson, we also learned this week that Austin’s own Drew Brees wasn’t the only great quarterback John Mackovic ignored. He ghosted Peyton Manning, too. Between Mackovic and Mack Brown — who said no thanks to Johnny Manziel, RGIII, and Jameis Winston, though he gets bonus points for Vince Young — the Longhorns apparently missed an opportunity to stake a late claim as Quarterback U.
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The Longhorns’ Chance to Shine
Of course, Steve Sarkisian, whose Longhorns will try to square the back-to-back series with Ohio State in the season opener at the Horseshoe on Saturday, is fast making up for previous oversights. The correction, started by Quinn Ewers, is accelerating rapidly with the latest quarterback from the first family of football. And, if history holds, Arch might just end up the Longhorns’ best ever. Better than VY. Better than James Street. Better even than Bobby Layne.
The Manning Family Tree
First Archie, then Peyton and Eli, and now Arch Manning. Now that’s a relay. If the old man, one of the most exciting players of his era, hadn’t been condemned to life with the lowly Saints, his NFL resume might have rivaled his sons’. Cooper’s boy hasn’t done much of anything yet except act as a gracious receiver of the family’s peculiar brand of X and O chromosomes. Arch’s famous clan, as down-to-Earth as a bowl of grits, is as bewildered by Arch Madness as anyone. Family members have attempted to slow the roll in an effort to temper expectations. Fat chance. They might be too close to see the big picture, at that.
A Sports Culture Primer
A sports culture primer: No family has ever produced so much as two NFL quarterbacks of the Mannings’ stature, let alone three. In an industry where the hardest thing to predict is how a quarterback will turn out, projecting a Manning is the closest thing possible to a cheat code. By the way, poke fun of Eli if you want, but the man won two Lombardi Trophies, same as his big brother.
Arch Manning’s Skill Set
What we’ve seen of Arch’s skill set thus far suggests his grandfather more than his uncles. Like Archie, he can run. That alone may bode well for top-ranked Texas’ chances against No. 3 Ohio State on Saturday.
Texas quarterback Arch Manning throws during an NCAA college football practice in Austin, Texas, Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
Eric Gay / AP
The Upcoming Game Against Ohio State
Might Texas’ fortunes have been different in the semifinals if Sark had gone with Arch at the goal line in the final minutes? Jack Sawyer would have had a harder time chasing down Arch for a strip sack and touchdown. Now, I’m not saying Sark should have started Arch over Ewers. The latter earned his status with wins in places like Arlington and Ann Arbor and Tuscaloosa, not to mention two straight trips to the semis. But would it have hurt if Sark had put in a package allowing Arch to both run and throw? My guess is the wraps will come off Saturday as we get a good look at what Arch can do against NFL-ready talent. He was fairly sensational against Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State last year. Ohio State is more than a couple steps up in class.
The Potential Outcome of the Game
Chances are Saturday will be a tough initiation, but, if it doesn’t go Texas’ way, it won’t necessarily be a deal-killer. Short of a blowout, losing to the defending national champs on the road in the first game isn’t the sort of thing the College Football Playoff committee holds against you in the long run. On the other hand, what if Texas wins, and Manning is at the heart of it? The hype train will be at full throttle, and for good reason.
Texas’ Quarterback History
For all its glittering football history, Texas’ quarterbacks have rarely been the best players on the field. Rarer still are the QBs who did much in the NFL. Street conjured a title-clinching win over Arkansas in the Big Shootout. Peter Gardere went 4-0 against Oklahoma. Major Applewhite was electric at times, at least until he lost his job to Chris Simms. Colt McCoy won 45 games in four years. VY, a force of nature, beat what was supposed to be the best team ever in the greatest game ever played.
The Comparison to Bobby Layne
But, purely on the basis of what he did at Texas as well as in the NFL, only Layne, who led the Lions to three league titles and retired as the game’s leading passer, would rival Arch’s stature if the kid lives up to his pedigree. Of all the QBs who have played in Austin since Layne’s heyday, only Simms’ background compares to Manning’s. Phil Simms won two Super Bowls for the Giants, too. Chris’ history, in fact, might have played a heavy hand in Mack’s decision with Applewhite.
The Mannings’ Patience
Fortunately for Sark, the Mannings are a patient bunch. They’ve bided their time, and now it’s here. Whether he becomes the greatest quarterback in Texas’ history or the next Chris Simms constitutes a pretty broad range. If I were a betting man, I’d say the Mannings are about to go 4 for 4 on quarterbacks. If not, well, at least they’ll stop stealing Arch’s picture at Dirty Martin’s.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, Arch Manning is a highly talented quarterback with a rich family legacy in football. With his unique skill set and the support of his family, he has the potential to become one of the greatest quarterbacks in Texas’ history. As the Longhorns prepare to face off against Ohio State, all eyes will be on Arch to see if he can live up to the hype and lead his team to victory.
FAQs
Q: Who is Arch Manning?
A: Arch Manning is a quarterback for the Texas Longhorns and a member of the famous Manning football family.
Q: What
