Todd McShay emphatically states Arch Manning was 'never going to be in the 2026 class' amid struggles

Much was made coming into the season of the fact that Texas QB Arch Manning would likely be back for another season of college before entering the 2027 NFL Draft. Now, three weeks into the season, Todd McShay thinks we’re seeing some of why he wouldn’t be in that class for 2026.

McShay discussed this year’s quarterback class while on ‘The Triple Option’ on Wednesday. He made it clear that the long-term play in college football was, like his uncles did, always going to be the case with Arch.

“Arch was never going to be in the 2026 class,” McShay stated. “I mean, talking to people who were, like, close to that situation? If he came out and had a brilliant year, and if the bubble in Austin just became too small, maybe he would have considered it. But the plan was always 2027, right. That was the same plan for Eli and for Peyton before him.”

We’ve now seen some of that play out in Manning’s performances through three games this fall with the Longhorns. He has struggled, completing only 55.3% of his throws for 193 yards a game with six touchdowns and three interceptions, with a pick thrown in each game so far, while also rushing for three more scores on 112 yards. The mechanics, though, have been as concerning as the production has too, with McShay being the latest to wonder about how it looks for Manning.

“When he actually gets his feet set and throws the ball and delivers, he’s been really good. But, that’s like one out of every three or four attempts that he’s doing that,” McShay said in his further evalution. “I just think he’s gotten so used to, like, you know, (where) his body is parallel to the line of scrimmage and just kind of flicking and on the run. For a guy who’s in the Manning family, and has had all the coaching that he’s had, and brought in like college coordinators to coach him in high school, and been around (his family)? I’m surprised that his footwork – you always hear that marrying your eyes to your feet. That’s all about going through progressions, let’s say, left to right? Your feet better come with you.”

However, this was part of a greater topic about the quarterbacks eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft. That draft will still have names in it, but a lot of the ones who were projected at the top of mocks and lists coming into this season have all struggled in their own ways nationally.

“This year, talking to scouts around the league and putting together the preseason list and watching tape, I was like, oh, we got a chance to have a special group, right…But we’ve seen some of these really talented quarterbacks? They’re not playing to the level,” said McShay. “Now, we’ve had Carson Beck play really well at Miami, (Fernando) Mendozza hasn’t played anyone for Indiana but so far that looks really good in that offensive system. We’ve seen Sawyer Robertson from Baylor who’s been firing…Aidan Chiles at Michigan State, nobody really knows about this guy but super talented, right. And John Mateer is a blast to watch and it’s going to be fun to see kind of what NFL teams are thinking about him…But, Arch hasn’t played well. (Cade) Klubnik has struggled at Clemson, right. You talked about (Garrett) Nussmeier.”

Just a portion of the way through the season, the expectations have come down a lot with Manning. McShay is okay with that, as he now may fully take the time he’ll need to develop and, in a year and a half from now, have a chance to be a high selection in that 2027 NFL Draft.

“I think we all now, after three weeks, can kind of move on from that discussion, and hopefully he can turn things around and he’ll be in contention to be the number one pick in 2027,” said McShay.