Arch Manning spoke to reporters on Wednesday and put a lot of Texas football fans at ease.
The Longhorns star quarterback has not been able to be a full participant during spring practice in 2026. But it’s not the end of the world, insists Manning and head coach Steve Sarkisian, who has maintained all along this spring that it was Texas’ plan to scale back Manning’s usage.
Hearing that from Sarkisian is one thing for the Longhorn faithful, but how about hearing it from Manning himself? That’s exactly what happened on Wednesday during Manning’s media session, when he said that if Texas had a football game to play on Wednesday — if there were somehow regular-season college football games on Wednesdays in April — he would absolutely be able to play.
“I feel 100% right now,” Manning told reporters. “We’re taking it slow, but if we had a game today, I would play.”
Manning’s reassurance of a passionate fan base came in the leadup to Saturday’s Fan Day in Austin. Although Manning likely won’t be a big part of what takes place on the field on Saturday, Fan Day will feature a glorified practice for Texas fans who want an early sneak peek at the 2026 Longhorns.
While the Longhorns don’t have a game “today” that Manning insists he could play in, that first game that counts will be here in less than 5 months, when Texas hosts Texas State on Sept. 5. Then Ohio State will arrive in Austin for a rematch of last year’s season-opening loss in Columbus.
That’s when Manning will really take center stage to start his second year at the helm. For now, he’s laying low during the spring, as Sarkisian and his quarterback stick to the long-term plan.
Texas fell short of the College Football Playoff last year in Manning’s first season as the starter. Here is what the Kalshi market is currently saying about Texas and the other top teams in the mix to make the Playoff in 2026:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
