Steve Sarkisian hints that Arch Manning could return to Texas in 2027

· Yahoo Sports

Texas football enters a pivotal season in 2026 in more than a few ways.

There's some quiet frustration around the program after a disappointing 2025 campaign in which the preseason No. 1 Longhorns missed the College Football Playoff, and the pressure is on coach Steve Sarkisian to contend for a title this fall.

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Sarkisian isn't the only one facing pressure. Arch Manning had a somewhat disappointing first season as a starter, but he improved down the stretch and enters 2026 as a Heisman favorite once again. Manning is expected to take a major leap and be a potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 NFL draft, but Sarkisian isn't so sure.

During an appearance on "Up & Adams" with Kay Adams, he said he wouldn't be surprised if Manning returned for a fifth season in 2027.

"We haven't had the discussion, but I would tell you I would not be surprised (if he returned)," Sarkisian said. "I think Arch really loves college football, I really do. I think he loves the University of Texas. He does pretty good through NIL. 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 Texas, all those things coming together.

"But again on the same token, I won't be surprised if he declares and decides to go to the draft. I think some of that is dependent upon how we play as a team this fall, how he plays individually. Knock on wood, injury-free football and things like that. But again, that's not our focus. Our focus is getting ready for the season. Texas State in Week 1, then Ohio State... and so forth. We haven't really had any dialogue about it, but to your point, I wouldn't be surprised. He loves college."

Expectations are high at Texas once again, and the Longhorns are likely to begin the year as the preseason No. 1 team for the second season in a row. A leap from Manning is a big part of that calculus, but it seems that even if he emerges as one of the nation's top signal-callers, leaving for the draft after the season is far from a given.

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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Arch Manning could return to Texas in 2027, Steve Sarkisian says

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