Colin Cowherd doubles down on Arch Manning, Nick Saban NFL pairing: 'A poorly kept secret'

Before Arch Manning has officially taken over as the full-time starting quarterback at Texas, questions about his NFL future are everywhere. Mainly regarding his status for the 2026 NFL Draft, wondering if Manning will declare or return to Austin for another year. FOX’s Colin Cowherd has gone in a different direction though, once again bringing up a landing spot for Manning and connecting him with Nick Saban.

“This is the worst-kept secret in the South,” Cowherd said, stating Manning would be on the Cleveland Browns. “Haslam, Jimmy, owner of the Browns. Huge SEC, Tennessee booster, leans heavily on the Manning Family. Very close to the Manning Family… Arch Manning is a part of the Manning Family and this is where Nick Saban comes in. Saban is incredibly close to not only Jimmy Haslam but Saban is close to the Manning Family as well. So, Saban, if he could land a top quarterback, I’m told… he would take a phone call for the NFL. There are two teams guaranteed to be awful this year in the NFL, Cleveland and the Saints.

“Nick Saban has coached in Cleveland with the Browns under the Belichick staff. And he coached at LSU. This is not a conspiracy theory… The Mannings are royalty to Jimmy Haslam… This is not a conspiracy theory. The circle of trust for Jimmy Haslam is the Manning Family and Jimmy Sexton. Saban, Manning, Haslam, South… This story is a poorly kept secret.”

There is already a connection between Manning and Saban going back to the quarterback’s recruitment. While Texas ultimately won out, Alabama was in the final three alongside Georgia. Saban was still the head coach at the time, attempting to get Manning to Tuscaloosa.

As for Saban getting back into coaching, one of his former players, Greg McElroy, stirred the pot a SEC Media Days. McElroy claims to have heard from someone that Saban is not done. Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin agreed, while Georgia’s Kirby Smart could not say the same.

Cowherd believes any job Saban does take, the NFL will be the route. Nothing in college.

If any of this were to play out, some time will have to pass. Manning is set to play the 2025 season under Steve Sarkisian at Texas. ESPN College GameDay will welcome Saban back to the desk when the crew goes to Columbus for a Week 1 matchup between Texas and Ohio State.