Texas badly needed this win.
The Longhorns defeated No. 7 Ole Miss 34-27 on Saturday, ending a two-game losing streak that threatened to derail their season. After narrow losses to Oklahoma and Florida, another would have raised serious questions about Texas and their chances to make the College Football Playoff. Instead, the Longhorns notched another victory over a ranked opponent, their third of the year, and improved to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in SEC play.
But even with the win, it hasn't slowed speculation that this could be Arch Manning's last season at Texas. Recently, former Georgia player and college football analyst David Pollack boldly predicted that Manning will not only transfer after this season but will sign with the Bulldogs, where he was heavily recruited before choosing the Longhorns.
"Unless this turns around crazy, Arch ain't going to be there [Texas] next year," Pollack said. "I had one person tell me, a coach, a head coach in the SEC, tell me that he would be shocked if he [Manning] didn't end up at Georgia."
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Manning's 2026 season has been disappointing relative to the expectations surrounding him. Through seven games, he's completed 63.3% of his passes for 1,507 yards and 12 touchdowns with seven interceptions. For a player who entered the season viewed as a Heisman Trophy candidate and future top-10 NFL draft pick, those numbers aren't acceptable. Costly turnovers, questionable decision-making, and inconsistent performances have made it difficult to get too high on him.
Georgia would be a logical reset for Manning, though, if he did decide to transfer. He was a five-star recruit and the No. 1 prospect in the 2023 class, but visited only three schools during his recruitment process: Texas, Alabama, and Georgia. He specifically visited Athens several times, and Kirby Smart recruited him heavily, but Manning ultimately chose Texas after developing a strong relationship with head coach Steve Sarkisian.
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The Bulldogs current starter, Gunner Stockton, is a redshirt senior, meaning Georgia needs to prepare for life after him. While they do currently have younger options on the roster, none have the experience that Manning does. Adding a proven, high-profile quarterback could help Georgia remain a national title contender after this season.
Manning still hasn't said whether he's going to stay at Texas beyond this season, and the NFL is still an option. What he ultimately decides to do will likely depend on how he finishes the year, and whether he can lead the Longhorns on a deep CFP run.