The 2025 season was all about walking a double-edged sword for Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian. It’s been an on-and-off gridiron journey for his former quarterback, Quinn Ewers, thanks to recurring injuries. Arch Manning also grabbed some attention, filling in for Ewers with a few solid stints. But now that Ewers is officially off to the NFL, it seems like the college football world has already hit the “forget” button on him. And just like that, the spotlight has shifted—Arch Manning is now the center of attention.

What’s trending now? A full-blown “what if” narrative around the latest heir of the Manning dynasty. And in that glorified chatter, Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden somehow got dragged into the swirl too.

There was a time when analysts speculated that Manning would hit the ‘SWAP’ button and leave Austin. But he stayed. Even Drew Brees said, “Yours is the guy, yours is going to have a great season they’re going to be National Championship contenders this year and then Arch Manning is going to get his opportunity as a third year player.” And guess what? Manning did live up to the hype tied to his iconic lineage—Peyton, Eli, and Grandpa Archie. His standout performance came in Week 5 against Mississippi State, when the 19-year-old threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns. Across 10 games, he racked up 939 yards and nine TDs.

Meanwhile, Ewers, being a senior, was expected to command more attention. But the stats told a different story….

Ewers started 14 games and put up 3,472 yards and 31 touchdowns. Still, fate clearly had other plans. His name wasn’t called on Day 1 of the draft. Now, Manning isn’t eligible for the NFL Draft until 2026, but he is already making waves. That’s where staff writer Jacob Morley came in with a hypothetical scenario. He wrote, “If Arch Manning started all season for Texas, Golden would not have been available at 23.” In short, Ewers’ path to the NFL was inevitable—but if Manning had taken full control, Golden’s rise might’ve taken a different route. Either way, it’s been a win for the Texas receiver.

After all, Golden became the first wideout drafted in the first round by the Green Bay Packers since 2002, getting picked No. 23 overall. Last season, Golden hit the transfer portal and played his junior year in Austin, while Manning—having committed in 2023—got more developmental time. Golden proved himself at the NFL Scouting Combine, clocking a blazing 4.29-second 40-yard dash. He stole headlines.

Some point fingers at Ewers, saying his throws didn’t help his receivers like Golden and Isaiah Bond shine—he missed targets and didn’t go for the deep ball enough when guys were open. It makes you wonder if Manning might’ve been a better fit. Manning, just 19, started two games compared to Ewers’ 14, so he didn’t get as many chances to show what he could do. But even with that limited playtime, some analysts are already seeing a promising future for Manning in the NFL.

Arch Manning, the Lone Star in the NFL Spotlight

March 25 was Texas’ Pro Day—and that’s when the Arch-mania really began. Rivals.com dropped a set of snaps from the event, one of which showed Manning deep in conversation with Los Angeles Rams GM Les Snead. The caption? “Rams QB1👀.” It quickly sparked buzz that the Rams could be lining him up to replace Matthew Stafford, who’ll turn 38 next year. With Stafford aging and retirement rumors brewing, L.A. could be a prime landing spot.

Amid the growing hype, Greg McElroy lit a fire with his comment: “He’s the guy that is best positioned to challenge Patrick Mahomes at the next level.” And USA Today’s Art Stapleton even fast-forwarded to 2031, tweeting: “The year is 2031. Arch Manning has won his second Super Bowl with the Jets and the Giants and Steelers are still waiting for an answer from Aaron Rodgers.”

While the media can’t decide whether Arch will end up in Los Angeles, New York, or Pittsburgh, another dark horse is making moves—the New Orleans Saints. Why? Desperation.

With Kellen Moore now head coach, the Saints are staring down an aging and often-injured Derek Carr, whose ceiling seems stuck at “meh.” And that’s where draft analyst Thor Nystrom chimed in with a cheeky five-step plan dubbed “Mission Arch Manning.” On April 11, he tweeted, “Step 1: Rule Carr out for the season Step 2: Announce Spencer Rattler as QB1 Step 3: Earn the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft  Step 4: Be a major player in free agency next spring by using rolled-over cap relief from Carr missing previous season Step 5: Draft Arch Manning.”

It’s a wild blueprint, but not entirely far-fetched. With the Saints’ QB situation shaky at best and a generational talent like Manning on the horizon, some teams are already drawing up their future around him. While Ewers enters the NFL as a forgotten name to many, Manning’s legacy is just getting warmed up. And honestly, with the NFL already buzzing over someone who hasn’t even declared—could 2026 be the real Year of the Longhorn?