Arch Manning Potentially Skipping 2027 NFL Draft Addressed by Texas HC Steve Sarkisian

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said he wouldn't be surprised if Arch Manning bypassed the 2027 NFL draft and stayed in college for a fifth year.

"You know, we haven't had the discussion, but I will tell you, I would not be surprised," he told Kay Adams on the Up & Adams show. "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. On the same token, I won't be surprised if he declares and decides to go into the draft. But I think some of that is dependent on how we play as a team this fall, how he plays individually. Knock on wood, injury-free football."

Manning, 22, threw for 3,163 yards, 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions last season, completing 61.4 percent of his passes. His signature game was a rough one, however, as he threw for just 170 yards with a touchdown and an interception in an opening-season 14-7 loss to Ohio State. The Longhorns were just 1-for-5 on fourth down in the contest and Manning struggled immensely.

He was better as the season progressed but failed to lead Texas back to the College Football Playoff, as losses to Florida and Georgia in SEC play sealed their fate.

Still, Manning is widely considered one of the top prospects in college football, and a monster 2026 season could make him the favorite to be the top overall pick in the 2027 NFL draft. Would he bypass the chance to go No. 1 overall for a fifth college season?

Apparently, there's a non-zero chance of that happening.