Pete Thamel reveals main factor for Arch Manning committing to Texas, impact on future of the program

Arch Manning could’ve played college football wherever he wanted, and he announced on Thursday he’s choosing Texas.

Afterwards, Pete Thamel of ESPN explained what he believes is the main factor for the On3 Five Star Plus+ quarterback choosing to play for the Longhorns.

“I really think the main factor in this decision, I have to give him credit, is Steve Sarkisian,” started Thamel. “Steve Sarkisian is one of the top quarterback coaches, and top play-callers in all of football. He’s been an NFL offensive coordinator with the Falcons. He was an NFL quarterbacks coach with the Raiders. Obviously, we saw the assembly line of high-end quarterbacks under his tutelage at Alabama, Tua Tagovailoa to Mac Jones.

“I really feel like the NFL preparation available for Arch Manning in Austin ended up being the difference maker for Texas.”

Over the course of his childhood, Manning watched his uncles — Peyton and Eli Manning — become football royalty due to long professional careers. Evidently, Thamel believes Arch Manning is choosing the program he believes can best prepare him for that level of play.

While the decision is a huge one for the star quarterback, it’s also monumental for Texas. According to Thamel, the commitment of Manning could signal a long-awaited return to the top of college football for the program.

“Texas went 5-7 last year. They lost to Kansas at home, they got blown out at Arkansas, which was a barometer for how far their program needed to go to get to the middle of the pack in the SEC. What Arch Manning does, he could be their starting quarterback in 2025 when Texas enters the SEC. But most important, he’s a center-piece, he’s a face of the program, and he’s a recruiting magnet,” explained Thamel. “People at Texas I’ve talked to today feel like there could be a flurry of commitments to follow Arch Manning, skill players who want to play with him.

“So, I really feel like for Texas’ program, this is a generationally big day, because it really sets them up with the most important building block they could possibly bring in, to get them ready for three years from now, when they do enter the SEC.”

Thursday is one of the biggest days in the life of Arch Manning, and could go down as a historic day for the University of Texas at Austin. Throw those horns in the air, Texas faithful — this moment should feel like a victory.