There’s a new chapter unfolding in the storied saga of the Manning family, and it’s taking center stage under the bright lights of Texas football. Arch Manning, the 21-year-old sophomore quarterback for the Texas Longhorns, isn’t just another highly touted recruit—he’s the latest scion of what many call the “royal family of football.” With a last name that echoes through NFL history, Arch is stepping into a spotlight that’s as intense as any in college sports, bringing with him a mix of pedigree, poise, and a dash of family humor that’s become something of a trademark for the Mannings.
Arch’s lineage is the stuff of legend. His uncles, Peyton and Eli, are both Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks—Peyton, now in the NFL Hall of Fame, and Eli, still awaiting his own induction. His grandfather, Archie, was a Southern icon and a star for the New Orleans Saints. Arch’s father, Cooper Manning, was a standout receiver at Ole Miss before a diagnosis of spinal stenosis ended his playing days and nearly cost him his life. That twist of fate didn’t just alter Cooper’s path; it shaped the entire Manning family’s outlook on football and life. Peyton famously switched his jersey number to 18 in honor of Cooper, and the family’s response to adversity has always balanced grit with an irrepressible sense of humor.
“What happened to Cooper really can happen to anybody, at any time,” Peyton wrote in his memoir, a reminder that football glory is never guaranteed. That lesson has stuck with Arch, who’s been the subject of national attention since his high school days in New Orleans. Even as a teenager, Arch watched from the sidelines as his family’s comedic antics played out on TV—Cooper’s “The Manning Hour” on Fox’s NFL pregame show, Peyton’s slapstick commercials and Saturday Night Live appearances, and Eli’s madcap YouTube sketches. As Eli put it, “Arch appreciates humor. No one laughs harder at his dad or his younger brother than Arch. He’s their biggest fan. He likes to be surrounded by humor, but he’s okay in a big crowd not being the funny one.”
But make no mistake—when Arch steps on the field, it’s all business. His first start for the Longhorns came on September 28, 2024, against Mississippi State, in front of a roaring crowd of 101,388 at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium. The stakes were sky-high: Texas was ranked number one for the first time in sixteen years, and Arch was filling in for an injured Quinn Ewers, himself a transformational figure in the program. How did the young Manning respond? By completing 26 of 31 passes, tossing two touchdowns, and avoiding interceptions altogether. He even showed off his mobility, breaking off a 26-yard run that had fans comparing him to his grandfather Archie, a renowned dual-threat in his day. Texas cruised to a 35–13 win, and the crowd’s delirious reaction signaled the dawn of what some are calling “Arch Madness.”
That game was just the beginning. Over the 2024 season, Arch played the equivalent of two and a half games, starting two, and racking up 939 passing yards with nine touchdowns and just two interceptions. He also rushed for 108 yards, including a highlight-reel 67-yard touchdown run against UT San Antonio. Mistakes? Sure, there were a couple—an ill-advised interception here, a sack there—but Arch always bounced back, leading meticulous touchdown drives and showing a level of calm that belied his years. Sportswriter Cedric Golden of the Austin American-Statesman captured it best: “He carries himself like a 33-year-old veteran of ten Pro Bowls.”
The expectations, though, are nothing short of monumental. By spring 2025, the media had already anointed Arch a leading Heisman Trophy candidate, and the Longhorns were consensus preseason favorites, rarely dropping below third in any poll. Some fans openly say that only a national championship will do. It’s a load that would crush most young quarterbacks, but for Arch, the pressure seems to roll right off. He credits his family’s humor and humility for keeping things in perspective. As Eli explained, “It helps deal with the pressure that you are under, to understand that it’s still a game, to find the lighter side of things. You can never tell what’s going to happen. All work and no play is not the way to go through this.”
Arch’s journey to Texas wasn’t the obvious choice. When he was weighing offers from powerhouse programs like Alabama and Georgia, both fresh off national titles, he instead chose Texas—a team coming off a disappointing 5–7 season under coach Steve Sarkisian. Why? “Go to a place where you will be happy,” Cooper told his son, “to a place where if you didn’t play a down, you would still enjoy your college experience. Have a little bit of balance.” For Arch, that place was Austin, and his instincts proved prescient. Since his arrival, the Longhorns have posted a 25–5 record, and the coaching staff that recruited him—Sarkisian and quarterbacks coach A.J. Milwee—remains intact, a rarity in the revolving-door world of college football.
Arch’s approach to the modern college game is refreshingly old-school. In an era when top recruits jump from school to school chasing playing time and lucrative name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals, Arch stayed put as a backup for two years, never entering the transfer portal. He waited his turn, even as coaches from other programs came knocking. “Did he love it? Of course not,” Cooper admitted. “He certainly wished he was playing last year. But he was a good soldier and a good teammate.” When it came to NIL money, Arch took his time, declining early endorsement deals and explaining to ESPN, “I wanted to earn my money, work hard, get to know the players, kind of earn my way up.” Only in January 2025 did he sign major deals, and even then, his approach was low-key—“I’m not a Lambo guy. I’m not that flashy.”
Off the field, Arch’s humility and kindness have become as much a part of his reputation as his arm strength. His high school coach, Nelson Stewart, called him “the nicest captain I’ve ever had,” and stories of Arch helping freshmen or carrying laundry for teammates abound. His brother Heid, a source of comic relief and camaraderie, remains a close companion at Texas, helping Arch maintain something resembling a normal college life—even as the hype machine swirls around him.
Now, as the 2025 season dawns, the anticipation is reaching fever pitch. On August 30, Texas faces defending national champion Ohio State in a “dream matchup” at Ohio Stadium—Arch’s official debut as the Longhorns’ starting quarterback. Both teams have lost key players, and the outcome is anyone’s guess. But one thing’s for sure: the eyes of the sports world will be fixed on Arch Manning, the latest—and perhaps most intriguing—chapter in America’s first family of football. As Cooper Manning quipped, “I will be trying not to throw up.” This time, he probably wasn’t joking.
