Archie Manning made national football news with his comments regarding the future plans for Texas QB Arch Manning, his grandson, in saying he wouldn’t be entering the 2026 NFL Draft. That wasn’t breaking by any means to Paul Finebaum, though, considering the family it’s coming from.
Finebaum reacted to these headlines about Manning’s future after this season in an appearance on ‘SportsCenter’ on Friday. He said it wouldn’t shock him at all to see Arch Manning back with the Longhorns in 2026 as his uncles also spent longer in college before going on to enter the NFL.
“Well, it didn’t surprise me,” said Finebaum. “One of the biggest surprises I’ve ever seen was about 30 years ago when Peyton Manning came back for a final season at Tennessee. It runs in the family.”
Peyton Manning and Eli Manning both notably also played four-year collegiate careers in the SEC. Peyton played for Tennessee from 1994-1997 before being the No. 1 pick in the 1998 NFL Draft while Eli played for Ole Miss from 2000-2003 before being the No. 1 pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. Now, with three decades spanning their three careers, Arch Manning is entering his third college season at Texas, his first as a starter, and would, depending how this year goes, have a good chance of being the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft – that is, if his name were even to in it next spring.
“Arch isn’t going to do that,” Archie Manning said to ‘Texas Monthly’ in regards to Arch Manning being in the draft class in 2026. “He’ll be at Texas.”
A lot can change from now over the next six months or so, especially if Manning is who many expect him to be this fall in Austin. Still, few, like Finebaum, seem all that shocked that he, like his family members before him, could in fact spend another season in college before going pro.
ESPN’s Graziano believes it would take ‘an awful lot’ to change Manning’s reported draft plans
Much has been made of Texas QB Arch Manning, with many already looking to his professional future despite him yet to take snaps as a full-time starter in college. Still, ESPN’s Dan Graziano is the latest with the expectation that he’ll spend one more season past this one in Austin.
Graziano was asked on ‘Get Up’ on Friday about the comments made by Archie Manning, Arch’s grandfather, that he’ll be back with the Longhorns in 2026, rather than entering his name into the NFL Draft. He noted that that’s a lot of what he has heard based on opinions around the league, with not even the high-end of what this upcoming collegiate season could be for him guaranteeing that he would go on to the NFL.
“I’m not surprised,” Graziano said. “Talking to people around the NFL over the past, you know, several months when this has come up, the expectation has been that Arch Manning would not be in the 2026 Draft and that he would wait another year to enter.
“So, look, is there a scenario where he goes, you know, full Joe Burrow–LSU and has a Heisman Trophy, national championship season and is undeniable? Sure. But, the Manning family, as we know from past quarterbacks that have entered the league with that name, is very meticulous and very, you know, determined in their planning. If this is the plan for Arch Manning, I would think it would take an awful lot to get them off of it and move him up one year early.”
