Steve Sarkisian on Arch Manning entering 2026 NFL Draft: 'I hope has a hard decision to make'

Steve Sarkisian didn’t even enjoy Year 1 with Arch Manning as his Texas starting QB before being asked about the NFL Draft. Manning could declare in 2026 and enter next spring should he choose.

There’s also been whispers of Manning playing two more years at Texas and then entering the 2027 NFL Draft. Sarkisian didn’t have a clear answer about what his quarterback will do just yet.

But, the question was asked and Sarkisian simply wants Manning to have a great season. With a great season, comes a great responsibility to make a choice. Or whatever Spiderman’s “Uncle Ben” said.

“I just want the guy to have a really good season this year, and we’ll cross that bridge when he comes to it,” Sarkisian said. “I hope he has a really hard decision to make, because that means he played really good.”

In addition to hoping Manning would have a great year in 2025, Sarkisian was very complimentary of his quarterback. Manning seems to have already won over the locker room if he hadn’t already.

“He’s such an easy going, mellow mannered guy that he doesn’t have to try too hard,” Sarkisian said. “I think him being himself at his core is what’s going to be good enough for people to get a sense and a feel for who he is, and ultimately with his teammates. When you don’t have to act and don’t have to put on a front of something different than you are, it’s a lot easier. He’s fortunate. Because he’s such a good guy, he can be just like that.”

Manning might be easy going and not worried about the expectations and hype, but that won’t stop others from talking. ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky mentioned that the young Manning QB has to be great at this point if the hype train keeps rolling.

“(Arch Manning) absolutely has to be the best quarterback, because they are the favorite in Texas to win the national championship,” Orlovsky proclaimed, via Get Up on Monday. “No. 2, the best quarterback in the country that no one talks about is in Columbia, South Carolina. LaNorris Sellers. I would agree that probably the best quarterback in the country now, right now, is Garrett Nussmeier.

“Arch Manning is more than likely going to be awesome, but we don’t know about Arch Manning. I’ve seen Nuss, late in games, 3rd-and-9, have to make a big throw and get it done. I watched the LaNorris Sellers finish with four straight wins for South Carolina in the SEC, and go for over 300 yards a game.

“I think Arch has got this expectation, and there’s probably no quarterback in the country under more pressure than Arch Manning. But there are five or six other quarterbacks that are much more proven, at least right now in college football.”