Arch Manning could transfer from the Texas Longhorns. It's not certain and it's may not even be likely.
But it is possible thanks to the latest rumors surrounding current starting quarterback Quinn Ewers.
According to reports, Ewers is considering returning for the 2024 season after another injury-plagued campaign in Austin. Some indications are that's even the likely outcome right now. The plan when Steve Sarkisian won the Arch Manning sweepstakes was always for the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2023 class to redshirt this season but, with Ewers assumed to depart for the NFL after the 2023 season, the reins would then be handed to Manning.
Should Ewers return, though, that throws a massive wrench into those plans. Would Manning be willing to sit another year, or would he then enter the transfer portal? The latter seems plausible for the quarterback to actually get on the field somewhere as opposed to sitting behind Ewers for another full season.
If Arch Manning were to enter the transfer portal, though, where would he end up? We have some ideas about possible destinations for the former 5-star and Manning family legacy.
5. Auburn Tigers could get things rolling landing Arch Manning transfer
For the most part, it's probably advantageous when considering the possibility of Arch Manning transferring to look at the programs that recruited him out of high school. Those preexisting connections with coaching staffs are incredibly important. At the same time, though, that's not entirely the way to judge the hypothetical process.
Three of the leading contenders to land the 5-star before he signed with Texas were Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. With the evolution of Jalen Milroe in Tuscaloosa, Manning would be going there to sit. The same could be said of Georgia if Carson Beck returns to Athens in 2024, but even if not, 5-star Dylan Raiola is on his way there in the 2024 class. As for the Vols, they landed another 5-star QB in 2023 with Nico Iamaleava.
That, in turn, would potentially open a small doorway for a program like the Auburn Tigers to poke their heads in and make some noise.
Auburn was not involved in the rat race that was Manning's initial recruitment, which is probably more of an indictment of Bryan Harsin than anything. Now with Hugh Freeze, who has a tremendous track record with maximizing quarterback play in his offense, that could change the calculus with the Tigers.
As we've seen throughout the 2023 season, quarterback is something that Auburn has to figure out. This program has a ton of upside, especially with a coach like Freeze at the helm. But busting down the door and crashing the Arch Manning party would be a shot of adrenaline to the Tigers akin to Pulp Fiction.
4. Could the UNC Tar Heels replace Drake Maye with Arch Manning?
North Carolina might be watching the greatest quarterback in program history at the helm of the offense right now with Drake Maye running the show. As a result of that, though, Maye is almost 100% gone for the NFL after this season as he's projected to be a Top 5 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. That then leaves UNC and head coach Mack Brown in a bit of a conundrum moving beyond the 2023 season.
Former 3-star Jefferson Boaz will be a senior but hasn't inspired much confidence to this point but current freshman Tad Hudson, a former 4-star recruit, does have some interest piqued for the future. And maybe Brown is content simply handing the reins to Hudson and not looking back from there.
But then again, maybe he wants to truly keep this thing rolling in Chapel Hill -- and that might require a bigger swing like Arch Manning.
UNC offered Manning out of high school, though the Tar Heels weren't ever in serious consideration from the No. 1 recruit in the 2023 class. Given the way that Brown has reshaped the program and had North Carolina on the precipice of and ACC Championship (though certainly missing out still thanks to Gene Chizik) perhaps Manning would be more enticed this time around should he enter the portal.
Given the way that the Heels have built up the stock of Maye, though, an argument could be made that North Carolina looks much more enticing nowadays than they did even a year or two ago.
3. Lane Kiffin would solidify Portal King status bringing Arch Manning to Ole Miss
After getting two established quarterback names to join Jaxson Dart in Oxford, how hard would it actually be for Lane Kiffin to bring another highly rated quarterback to Ole Miss?
Of course, it would be extremely difficult given the possible arms race that would be in play if Arch Manning hit the transfer portal. However, Kiffin would have several advantages at trying to make the move happen.
The Rebels were one of the leading contenders until late in Manning's recruitment to possibly land the 5-star quarterback in the place where ol' Uncle Eli became an SEC legend. Obviously, they ultimately missed out, but the established relationship between the coaching staff and Manning could prove highly beneficial.
Perhaps the biggest hangup would be that the QB room will likely still be crowded in Oxford. Spencer Sanders, who transferred to Ole Miss this past offseason, will be gone, as will Ryan Buchanan. But Dart still has eligibility remaining and Walker Howard, who Kiffin brought in by way of the portal from LSU, is only a sophomore. The Rebels also brought in a 4-star freshman in the 2023 class with Austin Simmons.
Would that preclude them still from reeling in the white whale that is Arch Manning? It's impossible to say. But given Kiffin's aggressive approach in the portal -- assuming he remains in Oxford with Texas A&M now opening and him being connected to that vacancy -- you have to believe he would consider the possibility, at the very least.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes might be a dark-horse for an Arch Manning transfer
We're going a little off of the board here with a mention of Ohio State because, well, the Buckeyes were not on the recruiting trail for Arch Manning. Of the 14 offers that the quarterback receiving coming out of high school, Ohio State wasn't on that list. They also weren't considered one of the teams even in the mix early that ultimately didn't make an offer.
Situations change, though, and that might be where Ohio State currently finds itself.
During both spring and fall camp this year, it was battle between junior former 5-star Kyle McCord and sophomore former 4-star Devin Brown for the starting job in Columbus. That battle was ultimately won by McCord, but the results on the field have not been what fans hoped for.
Yes, the Buckeyes have started the season at 10-0 with wins over Notre Dame and Penn State to their credit -- but most would argue that has often been in spite of McCord rather than because of the quarterback. If he didn't have an all-world receiver in Marvin Harrison Jr. along with a top-tier defense this season, who knows where Ohio State would be given the QB's level of play.
That could ultimately lead to Ryan Day considering the possibility of an upgrade -- assuming 4-star recruit Air Noland isn't ready -- and exploring another 5-star option in Arch Manning. It might be an uphill fight given the lack of recruiting familiarity between Manning and the Buckeyes. At the same time, though, with Ohio State's track record and receiving corps, it would be fascinating to see how the Buckeyes could work their way into a transfer discussion.
It would also be a touch of poetry for Manning to transfer to Ohio State after Ewers spurned the Buckeyes after one season in Columbus to transfer to Texas.
1. LSU Tigers should bring Arch Manning home if he hits transfer portal
Jayden Daniels has turned out to be more than even Brian Kelly could've ever hoped for with the LSU Tigers this season. The former Arizona State quarterback is one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy in the 2023 season. More importantly, one could argue that the only reason LSU is even relevant this year is because of the individual exploits of Daniels.
The problem, however, is that Daniels will have exhausted his eligibility after this season, leaving the Tigers looking for long-term answers at quarterback beyond 2023.
LSU was one of the shockingly small number of schools who offered Arch Manning out of high school, which made complete sense given his local ties. Manning attended Isidore Newman in New Orleans after his granfather, Archie Manning, had a storied NFL career with the Saints. The connection is clearly there.
Kelly and the Tigers do have former 4-star quarterback Garrett Nussmeier still on the roster, who decided to stay in Baton Rouge while another former recruit, Walker Howard, departed for Ole Miss. Having said that, if the Tigers have a chance at the No. 1 overall player in the 2023 recruiting class at a position where they don't have a written-in-stone answer, that would be difficult to pass up.
Regardless, we'll see if Kelly chooses to dip his toe into this pool to try and bring Arch Manning home, or if we would stay content with the QB room he already has in place.