Texas football star Arch Mannng never played baseball at Isidore Newman High School, but he has an opportunity to win a triple crown.
No catcher’s mitt? No Louisville Slugger? No problem.
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If things go as planned this fall, the Longhorns quarterback could join some big names in an elite club.
Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) talks to running back Raleek Brown (0) during practice on fan day at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aril 18, 2026 in Austin.
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MORE CED: Texas NFL draft output will bode well for the fall
Texas quarterback Arch Manning watches his former teammates during Texas Longhorns pro day on campus at the University of Texas, March 24, 2026.
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Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) looks for a pass in the second quarter of the Citrus Bowl against the Wolverines at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, Dec. 31, 2025.
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Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza’s went to the Las Vegas Raiders with the first pick of the NFL draft, joining LSU’s Joe Burrow in 2019, Florida State’s Jameis Winston in 2013 and Auburn’s Cam Newton in 2010 as Heisman Trophy-earning quarterbacks to win a national title and then go No. 1.
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Newton, after winning league MVP in 2015 and leading his team to Super Bowl L, became the greatest Carolina Panther ever. Burrow’s talent is undeniable, winning Comeback Player of the Year twice with the Cincinnati Bengals. Winston is a fan favorite, but has settled in as a backup after going 28-42 as a starter his first five years.
If Manning can achieve college football’s version of the triple crown, he’ll be a slam dunk choice for the top pick in the 2027 draft, provided he leaves as expected. It would be the conclusion of a dream season and right now it’s closer to dream than reality, though a title run is possible in the 512.
Of course, Manning can’t do it alone. There’s a formula and head coach Steve Sarkisian is relaying his philosophy to the newcomers in the locker room. With transfers like Cam Coleman, Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers added to the mix, the Horns have plenty of weaponry on paper.
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“I think when they understand we’re doing it in the best interest of the program to put our team in the best position to be successful, that’s when the individual successes (come),” Sarkisian said this spring. “The draft picks, the accolades, the awards, the All-Americans … things like that follow suit. And it’s never easy. It hasn’t been easy for the past few years.”
Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian talks to quarterback Karle Lacey Jr. (9) during practice on fan day at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aril 18, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
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Will Arch Manning check those three boxes?
It’s not baseball or horse racing, but it’s a trifecta that Longhorn Nation would welcome with open arms.
On his “4th&1” podcast, Newton actually blamed Manning for what he called the worst draft class in the last two decades because Arch wasn’t ready to turn pro this year. That’s neither here nor there since Manning emerged as a true alpha dog in the second half of last season.
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Manning still has a long way to go, but the potential is limitless. Better yet, he earned the respect — not only of the locker room in the second half of the season — of the teams he played against.
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And he’s after more respect in 2026.
“Rent is due everyday,” Manning said. “So you have got to wake up, work hard, earn it and take no days off. It was definitely a little bit easier this year because you’ve been through some tough times with the guys and you’ve proved it a little bit more.”
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So, will New York City happen? The Horns haven’t had a Heisman Trophy finalist since quarterback Colt McCoy finished as one in 2008 and 2009 behind winners Sam Bradford and Mark Ingram.
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No Heisman winner ever played on a bad team and Manning will be the head of a Longhorns group on the short list of teams that could win it all. Sarkisian and his staff have the makeup to make it happen, but will have to find the right mix to put the Horns in the right position. It all starts with Manning, who served a two-year apprenticeship under Quinn Ewers before admittedly going through some growing pains in Year 1 as a starter.
Manning, now 22, knows this is likely his last college season and while we’re still months away from the Sept. 5 season opener against Texas State, his preparation for the biggest fall of his life is unquestioned.
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“He’s not going home and watching TV shows all night,” UT quarterbacks coach AJ Milwee said. “He’s not on Netflix all night. He’s watching and he’s preparing. Whatever the next day is, he has answers and questions when he comes in the next day.”
BASEBALL: Tinney blast lifts Horns over Sam Houston
Championship games are played in January, but they are won months before. The work one puts in will determine one’s fate when all the chips are in the middle of the table.
Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby #2) throws a pass against TCU on Nov. 29, 2025 at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth.
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QB Brendan Sorsby is a cautionary tale
With the news that Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby has entered a treatment facility to deal with a gambling addiction, it’s possible the Cincinnati transfer has played his last college football game. Reports circulated that he bet on hundreds, perhaps thousands of pro sporting contests, which prompted an NCAA investigation.
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Other college athletes should take note. They could be next.
“We love Brendan and support his decision to seek professional help,” Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said in a statement. “Taking this step requires courage, and our primary focus is on him as a person. Our program is behind Brendan as he prioritizes his health.”
The program may be behind, but his college days may also be in the rearview. If Sorsby is found to have bet on a single NCAA game — especially one involving his own team — it’s possible that he could be thrown out of college football, leaving him as an option for the NFL’s June supplemental draft.
Either way, it’s only the beginning. More cases like his will surface and the leaders that govern what’s left of amateur college sports will be tasked with trying to reverse what will soon become an avalanche. There are a lot of Brendan Sorsbys out there: young people with a mountain of money just waiting to spend it.
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It’s the not so pleasant side of the NIL/transfer portal era. The hope is these schools are getting out in front of this and teaching their young adults what can happen when one isn’t ready for the pitfalls that can occur.
I agree with what ESPN broadcaster Paul Finebaum said recently: This is just the tip of an iceberg.