Arch Manning Shuts Down Prestigious Family Honor With Blunt “Hell No” [VIDEO]
Arch Manning has different goals.
Arch Manning just made his priorities clear. A reporter asked if winning the Manning Award is a goal this season. The Texas quarterback did not hesitate.
“Uh nah, nah, no, hell no, that’s not my goal for this season,” he said.
Reporters in the room laughed at how fast he shut it down.
The Manning Award honors the nation’s top college quarterback. The Allstate Sugar Bowl created it to recognize Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. Arch landed on the 2026 preseason watch list this week. He was also a finalist last year after a strong Citrus Bowl.
Arch Manning Puts Team Wins Ahead of Family Hardware
Arch Manning. Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The award carries his last name. That did not change his answer. He wants Texas back in the College Football Playoff. Individual trophies sit behind that.
After taking over from Quinn Ewers, Manning finished 2025 with 3,163 passing yards and 26 touchdown throws. He added 399 rushing yards and 10 scores. Nineteen of his 36 total touchdowns came in the final six games
Texas won seven of its last eight after a rough start. He threw 15 touchdowns and only two picks over that stretch. The Longhorns beat Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Michigan in the Citrus Bowl.
Coach Steve Sarkisian has called him a dangerous player this offseason. Sarkisian said Manning learned from last year’s criticism. He also praised his rapport with new receivers Cam Coleman, Ryan Wingo and Emmett Mosley.
Arch Manning Stays Grounded After Heavy Preseason Hype
Arch Manning. Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
Expectations remain huge. Some draft analysts still project him as a top 2027 pick. ESPN ranked him the No. 6 quarterback nationally, not the top five. He has heard the noise before.
Grandfather Archie Manning has said people crowned Arch too early. Arch keeps pointing the talk back to the field. He said at SEC Media Days he is not worried about the future right now.
Texas opens against Texas State, then hosts Ohio State in Week 2. That rematch will test whether last year’s late surge carries over. College football viewers will watch how this Texas team looks on those same airwaves.
Manning sits on several other watch lists, including the Davey O’Brien and Maxwell awards. None of that changed his tone. He wants wins in Austin, not another family trophy in New Orleans.
The quote is short and sharp. It matches how he has talked all offseason. Texas needs him to play like the closer he became last November, not like a name on a watch list.
