Arch Manning reminds everyone how close he was to committing to Georgia over Texas

The Arch Manning Era is officially underway after the newest starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns went through his first-ever SEC Media Days.

Amid a herd of media members, Manning fielded questions from left, right, and center, doing a phenomenal job of answering questions maturely but still making it well known that he has an infectious personality.

When he sat down at the microphone, Manning shared that he had actually just run into Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, and let Texas fans know that it wasn't always a sure thing that he would be a Longhorn.

"It was weird seeing [Smart] since recruiting," Manning said. "I was kinda down to the wire between Georgia, [Texas], and Alabama. They've got really good players and excited to play them again at their place."

Last season, Manning stepped into the Longhorns' matchups against Texas on a few snaps, mainly rushing the ball, but also while former Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers rode the bench for a few drives.

Arch Manning vs. Georgia in 2024

• 3 completions (50%)
• 19 passing yards
• 7 carries
• -1 rushing yards (includes sacks)

Manning had far from successful showings agains the Bulldogs last year. However, he was put into nearly impossible situations when the Horns were already struggling to keep their heads above water against the now-defending SEC Champions.

There are lofty expectations floating above Manning's head this year, set in place by talking heads like Paul Finebaum as well as national opinions, placing the first-year starter as the favorite for the Heisman Trophy.

Manning's reminder that he very easily could have played for Georgia or Alabama shouldn't make Texas fans feel uneasy about his commitment to the program. If anything, it should prove that he knows he made the right decision after riding the bench behind Ewers for two years and sticking around for his chance to hold the offensive reins.