The mystery surrounding Arch Manning's eligibility has felt like a high-stakes chess match for two years. Everyone wants to know the same thing: did Arch Manning redshirt? Or did the most famous backup in college football history burn through his years of eligibility while standing on the sidelines?
Let’s be real. If your last name is Manning, people are going to track your every move like a GPS.
The 2023 Season: A Masterclass in Patience
Arch Manning absolutely redshirted during the 2023 season. It’s official. He arrived in Austin as the most hyped recruit of the decade, yet Steve Sarkisian played it remarkably cool. Arch only saw the field in two games that year: a late-game appearance against Rice and some mop-up duty against Texas Tech.
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Under the NCAA's current rules, a player can appear in up to four games and still maintain their redshirt status. Arch played in two. Math doesn't lie.
He spent most of that year watching Quinn Ewers lead the Longhorns to a Big 12 Championship and a College Football Playoff berth. For a kid who could have started for 120 other programs, sitting still was a statement. He wasn't just a "true freshman." He was a "true freshman redshirting."
Why the Redshirt Mattered
- Physical Maturity: Arch needed to put on weight. He went from a skinny high schooler at Isidore Newman to a 220-pound SEC-ready frame.
- Learning the Scheme: Sark’s offense is notoriously "pro-style complex."
- The Ewers Factor: Quinn Ewers was the guy. There was no quarterback competition, despite what message boards claimed.
2024: The Redshirt Freshman Season
By the time the 2024 season rolled around, Arch was technically a redshirt freshman. This is where things got interesting. Quinn Ewers dealt with an abdominal injury early on, thrusting Arch into the spotlight.
He didn't just "play." He exploded.
During the 2024 season, Arch appeared in 10 games and made two starts. He looked like a seasoned pro against UTSA and Mississippi State. He threw for 939 yards and 9 touchdowns while showing off wheels that neither Peyton nor Eli ever had. That 67-yard touchdown run against UTSA? Pure electricity.
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Because he played in 10 games, he officially used a year of eligibility in 2024. He "shed" the redshirt status in the sense that he was no longer sitting out, but he remained a freshman in terms of his remaining clock.
The 2025 Campaign and the Future
As we look back from the perspective of January 2026, the 2025 season was the year Arch finally took the keys to the kingdom. With Quinn Ewers off to the NFL, Arch started all 13 games. He wasn't perfect—losses to Ohio State and Florida proved he's human—but his stats were monster.
We’re talking 3,163 passing yards and 26 touchdowns.
Honestly, the biggest news right now isn't about whether he redshirted—it's that he's staying for 2026. Cooper Manning confirmed it just a few weeks ago in December 2025. Arch is coming back for his redshirt junior season.
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A lot of people thought he’d jump to the NFL Draft this spring. He's projected as a top pick. But the Manning family has a history of staying in school (look at Peyton and Eli). They value the "growth" Sarkisian talks about.
Current Eligibility Breakdown
- 2023: Redshirt Year (Used 0 years of eligibility).
- 2024: Redshirt Freshman Season (Used 1 year).
- 2025: Redshirt Sophomore Season (Used 2 years).
- 2026: Redshirt Junior Season (Upcoming).
What Most People Get Wrong
There's a weird misconception that Arch "wasted" time. You’ll hear fans say he should have transferred to Ole Miss or Tennessee to start immediately.
But look at the roster Texas is building for him in 2026. They just landed Cam Coleman from the portal and Raleek Brown from Arizona State. If Arch had left, he wouldn't be playing behind one of the best offensive lines in the country with a head coach who actually knows how to prep QBs for the league.
Sitting that first year wasn't a "bench warming" session. It was an investment.
Actionable Takeaways for Longhorn Fans
- Track the 2026 Roster: Watch the transfer portal moves Texas is making. They are surrounding Arch with elite SEC talent to make a legitimate 2026 National Championship run.
- Monitor the NFL Draft Boards: Even though he's returning, Arch is already being mocked as the potential No. 1 overall pick for the 2027 NFL Draft.
- Eligibility Check: Arch Manning technically has two years of college eligibility remaining (2026 and 2027), though 2026 is widely expected to be his final ride in Austin.
Keep an eye on spring practice reports. Now that Trey Owens has entered the transfer portal, the backup spot is wide open, but the QB1 spot is firmly, finally, and officially Arch's.