How many people is Lane Kiffin messing around with? From Landry’s pilates world to the Longhorns nation, the Ole Miss HC probably got the reaction he wanted. And now, one of the biggest excitement for Texas football is Arch Manning, now that Quinn Ewers is gone. After two patient years waiting in the wings under Steve Sarkisian‘s careful eyes, he’s finally stepping into the role he was seemingly born for — QB1 at Texas. 

So, when an April Fools’ prank surfaced suggesting that Arch Manning was jumping ship, Texas fans felt their stomachs drop faster than a lineman in conditioning drills. The man contributing to the chaos is none other than CFB’s king of trolling HC.

Lane Kiffin, the social media maestro, decided to lean all the way into April 1 antics. First, he joked about joining his daughter Landry’s pilates class as an instructor in his Instagram story on April Fools’ Day. Then, he took the prank further by reposting a viral image of Arch Manning with one explosive word plastered across it — “TRANSFERRING.” Imagine the horror of the Longhorns Nation!

The original post by Barstoolsports sent shockwaves throughout the college football world. The headline read, “BREAKING: Texas QB Arch Manning Is Expected To Commit To Ole Miss After Announcing His Intention To Enter The Transfer Portal.” If you’re an Ole Miss fan, this is a jackpot. But for a Texas fan? It’s a guy punch straight from Bevo’s horns. But of course, it’s all just a joke. 

Lane Kiffin’s track record on social media made it all the more believable. Nothing is off limits for the Rebels’ HC, and April Fools’ Day is essentially his Super Bowl, for that matter. He also didn’t miss another wild joke by Barstool Ole Miss, which announced that “Ole Miss QB Austin Simmons is retiring from football and refocusing his career on baseball.” It’s in his latest IG story for the world to see and miss a heartbeat for a split second. Still, it was the Longhorn Nation that had the biggest scare.

How fans are taking Arch Manning’s transfer prank

The idea of Arch Manning ditching burnt orange for powder blue had Longhorns fans choking on their brisket. One fan commented, “I gasped in class then remembered what day it was.” Just as they were spiraling, a dose of reality hit, which was April 1.

But even as the hysteria subsided, it took over social media with reactions ranging from rage to relief. “BRO I JUST OPENED THE APP DON’T SCARE ME LIKE THIS 😭😭😭,” another person posted. But a scenario like this isn’t out of the question, as the Longhorns HC admitted.

In an interview with Texas legend Colt McCoy, Steve Sarkisian revealed that other programs have tried to poach his star QB, but he remained “patient.” Still, “April Fools got people stressin lmao,” as this person wrote. With a $6.5 million NIL valuation, it’s safe to assume schools have tried everything to lure Arch Manning away from Austin.

The 2023 No. 1 overall recruit is not budging, though. Another fan even went as far to plant another joke saying, “Suing for emotional damage.” But the scare is legit. After all, with his athleticism, deep-ball ability, and leadership, he’s the symbol of redemption. 

The cousin of NFL greats Eli and Peyton Manning, Arch played in 10 games last season, with two starts against ULM and MSST. Despite limited action, he racked up 939 yards and nine TDs by completing 61 of 90 passes. Adding to it, he scored 108 yards and four scores on the ground, showcasing his ability to compile big numbers. So this brutal prank set the stage for angry fans to lay out their cause. “10/10 rage bait,” another person wrote. But all’s well that ends well. Arch Manning is poised to take Texas to where it belongs — on top of the college football world. 

April Fools’ jokes aside, the Arch Manning era in Austin has officially begun, and he already has immense support. And if all goes according to plan, the only thing that’ll be transferring is the national championship trophy to Texas.