Arch Manning’s Future at Texas Debated by CFB Fans After Quinn Ewers Announces Return

Texas is back. Quinn Ewers is back.

Now the only question is whether Arch Manning will be back.

Ewers announced Thursday that he will forgo the 2024 NFL draft and return to the Longhorns for the 2024 campaign after leading them to the College Football Playoff in 2023:

That is surely welcome news for Texas fans, as it means the team’s veteran quarterback will be back under center as the program moves to the SEC and faces a different level of competition in the immediate future.

His 2023 backup, Maalik Murphy, may have seen the writing on the wall before the official announcement, as he transferred to Duke.

However, Manning, who is the nephew of NFL greats Peyton and Eli Manning, is still on Texas and will presumably be the backup in 2024 even though he was the No. 1 overall recruit in the class of 2023, per 247Sports’ composite rankings.

Some thought of Manning when they reacted to Ewers’ decision:

Despite the speculation, Manning himself told reporters (h/t Brad Crawford of 247Sports) ahead of the CFP that he hasn’t explored transferring away from head coach Steve Sarkisian’s program.

“I mean, there’s always rumors especially nowadays,” he said. “I haven’t looked into transferring at all. I’m focused on developing and helping this team anyway I can and one day playing for the University of Texas like I’ve always wanted to. Sark’s one of the realest guys I know. He keeps it 100 with you and that’s what I want.”

That’s exactly what Texas fans want to hear.