Texas' Arch Manning Dodges Question On Possible 2026 NFL Draft Entrance

Arch Manning has only started two games in his college football career. However, that hasn't prevented top NFL Draft experts from declaring the Texas quarterback as the top prospect in the 2026 class.

But as some wonder if Manning will declare for the 2026 NFL Draft, he's keeping his focus on Texas' 2025 season. 

"I’m really just worried about getting through this interview and then getting through the run tomorrow," Manning told reporters when asked if he's given any thought about entering the 2026 NFL Draft during SEC Media Days on Tuesday. "I’m just focused on this year and getting better each day."

Not only has Manning been viewed as the favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but some have considered him to be one of the top quarterback prospects in recent memory. FOX Sports' Bucky Brooks wrote in May that Manning is more talented than his uncles, Peyton and Eli Manning, as he ranked him as his No. 1 quarterback for the 2026 draft class.

[Related: Ranking 2026 QB draft class: Is Arch Manning clear-cut No. 1 of a stacked bunch? ]

With the possibility of Manning, who is a redshirt sophomore, declaring for the draft after the season looming, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is hoping that he plays well enough in 2025 to make a tough choice.

"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 told reporters on Tuesday. "I hope he has a really hard decision to make, because that means he played really good."

The hype surrounding Manning began before he even arrived in Austin. He was ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the 2023 recruiting class, and his last name only added to the buzz surrounding his recruitment. 

But Manning