Arch Manning confronts growing NFL Draft expectations with one clear message about his future beyond Texas

Arch Manning has one more year of college eligibility, and he is not rushing to talk about what comes after Texas. The 22-year-old quarterback told PEOPLE he is taking things day by day as questions about the Heisman and his future keep piling up. Texas is 4-0 and ranked No. 1, yet Manning admitted he did not play his best in the win at Tennessee. His mother says that is just who he is. With the Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma days away, his attention is fixed on just one game.What has Arch Manning said about his future beyond Texas?Asked whether he has another year of eligibility, Manning kept it short. “I do,” Arch smiles in a Zoom with PEOPLE. “Yes, ma’am. I’m taking it day by day.”That reply does not point either way, and it may not be meant to. Manning is in his second season as the Longhorns starter and has faced Heisman questions for two years. Texas, now No. 1 in the country, has given him plenty to talk about, including a 24-23 comeback win at home over Ohio State on Sept. 12. He still sticks to the simple answer.He explained why. “I try to remind myself, like, I used to dream about playing football, you know, at the University of Texas, being the starting quarterback for college,” he says.Why does Ellen Manning call her son a perfectionist?Ellen watched the Tennessee game from a suite above Neyland Stadium with her husband, Cooper, Archie and Peyton. Texas won, but Arch left unhappy with his own play. She was not surprised. “Arch is extremely tough on himself,” Ellen, 57, told PEOPLE in an interview for the heart-health supplement Humann.Self-praise does not come easy to him, she added. “He will never come off and say, ‘God, that was great, I played great.’ ”She laughed as she said the rest. “You know, he’s a perfectionist. And hopefully that’ll serve him well. He’s killing it, and nobody’s gonna have a perfect game, ever.”Arch seems to agree. “I need to start making the most out of these games,” he said with a smile.How are Eli and Peyton Manning helping Arch Manning?Arch values it. “Anytime you have two elite quarterbacks as your uncles helping you out and giving you advice and support, it helps a lot,” Arch tells PEOPLE.Ellen said the calls are not constant. The uncles live in different cities and have families of their own. “What’s nice is they’re there, you know?” she said. “It’s literally, they’re there as a resource, and it’s wonderful.”Eli has kept his advice mostly on the field. Earlier this month, Arch drew criticism for comments on an AI video featuring Texas coach Steve Sarkisian and ESPN’s Holly Rowe. Eli addressed it with Front Office Sports. “Most of my advice is more football stuff,” he said. “He’ll have to figure out that media on his own, a lot of it is just growing pains.”Outside the family, his favorite NFL quarterback is a different name entirely. “I really like watching Josh Allen,” Arch says, smiling, as he holds up a bobblehead.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.