Rumors have been swirling about quarterback Quinn Ewers returning to the Texas Longhorns next season. The assumption has been he will declare for the 2024 NFL Draft, and ballyhooed QB recruit Arch Manning to take center stage in Austin, but Ewers’ returning muddies that picture some.
If Arch Manning won’t be the top guy for Texas next season, where could he be playing in 2024?
Arch Manning Transfer Destinations
Texas Longhorns
It is entirely plausible that Arch Manning just stays at Texas.
Assuming he would leave this early in his career with Texas transitioning to the SEC feels presumptuous, especially with the gauntlet Texas has to play in 2024. Manning’s camp would probably welcome Ewers having to play at Michigan the second game of the season over him in his first season.
Don’t rule it out, especially with the amount he is earning through NIL for simply being on campus. Manning could get another year under Sark while the roster continues to build and hit the ground running in 2025.
MORE: What is NIL?
LSU Tigers
If he does decide to transfer, a reunion in his home state of Louisiana seems awfully convenient. Manning played high school football in New Orleans and could head back after seeing the success the Tigers’ offense has had this year.
Jayden Daniels is heading out the door, leaving the starting job open for him to take.
Manning would have to fight off Garrett Nussmeier, who already has exposure to the offense and team, but he wasn’t a five-star recruit for nothing. Manning could get the keys to an offense filled with talent and step right into playing time.
Washington Huskies
After seeing what Kalen DeBoer and Ryan Grubb have done for Michael Penix Jr., it’s hard to imagine Washington wouldn’t appeal to any quarterback in the portal. With Penix off to the NFL after this season, Washington’s future at quarterback is up in the air with no clear answers.
Manning could start almost right away in an offense designed for him with two of the best schemers in college football.
Texas A&M Aggies
This would be tremendous content for college football fans, but it does make sense. College Station is closer to his hometown, and if A&M nails their next coaching hire, that job could be appealing pretty quickly. This doesn’t feel fair to the guys in that room like Connor Weigman, but a new coach could want his guys, and Weigman/Max Johnson could leave without Jimbo Fisher there.
MORE: Jimbo Fisher Fired From Texas A&M
Manning could step into a starting job with plenty of talent around him in one of the wealthiest programs in college football.
Alabama Crimson Tide
The Crimson Tide was one of his final schools, and after seeing the turnaround this coaching staff unlocked out of Jalen Milroe, that looks far more appealing than it did coming into the season. Milroe staying or declaring for the draft would ultimately decide this, but if he does declare, Manning would have to compete with Ty Simpson for the starting job.
It’d be pretty poetic for him to land at the rival school of his uncles Peyton and Eli’s alma maters.
Georgia Bulldogs
Much like Alabama, Georgia was one of Manning’s final schools. With the way Carson Beck is playing, he feels like a near lock to declare for the NFL Draft, though that isn’t a guarantee yet.
Manning could step right into the best team in the country as their starting quarterback with plenty of top-tier talents all around him.
