Texas’ Arch Manning does something Peyton, Eli, and Archie never achieved football careers against Arkansas

Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning has resurrected hope in Austin, having led the team to a 7-3 record heading into Week 13 after a 3-2 start. Against the Arkansas Razorbacks, he did the spectacular – something no play-caller for his grandfather, Archie, or his uncles, Peyton and Eli, could’ve ever dreamed of doing:

Arch threw, ran for, and caught a touchdown pass in the same game. He is the son of a receiver, Cooper Manning, after all.

None of his family members, Archie and Eli of who played at the University of Mississippi, or Peyton at the University of Tennessee, ever caught a touchdown at the collegiate level. They rarely called their own number on the ground, either. It’s a different game today.

Quarterbacks catching passes was not a thing in the aughts, the 1990s, the 1970s, or the 1960s.

When is Arch Manning projected to be drafted?

Manning is now doing the spectacular on the field in a three-pronged attack. He’s throwing touchdown passes, finding the end zone with his legs, and showing his hops in trick play sets. Is that a sign the NFL is next?

Bleacher Report’s Mike Chiari sounds bearish on Manning declaring for the 2026 draft, believing the 2027 draft is a likelier reality for the next in a historic quarterback family lineage to reach the NFL.

“If Manning plays well in those games, leading Texas to victories and into the CFP, it is possible the narrative surrounding him could change significantly over the next month,” Chiari wrote.

“However, even if that happens, it is far from guaranteed that he will enter the 2026 NFL draft, as a second year as a starter at the collegiate level could help his development in a major way.”

Perhaps Arch could do that at the next level, and he can claim something over all his signal-calling family members in the SEC and NFL.

It probably can’t happen until 2027 at the earliest, though.