Arch Manning is widely considered the favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft if he leaves the Texas Longhorns after the 2025 season. Will we seen the highly-hyped quarterback on an NFL sideline next fall? In the words of one legendary college football broadcaster: not so fast, my friend .

The hype around Arch Manning has reached an all-time high with the college football season just weeks away. From bold Heisman projections to mock drafts crowning him the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the University of Texas quarterback has already been put on a high pedestal — despite having seen limited action on the field.

Various way-too-early 2026 NFL mock drafts have included Texas quarterback Arch Manning in the first round, which means the first-year starter for the Longhorns would have to leave school a year early for that to come to fruition.