Texas Football: Arch Manning shuts down transfer rumors

Texas football and head coach Steve Sarkisian have assembled one of the most talented quarterback rooms in the nation this season. Texas has multiple former No. 1 rated quarterback recruits in the nation in the same quarterback room this year, including redshirt sophomore Quinn Ewers and true freshman Arch Manning.

Sark and the Longhorns also had an uber-talented backup quarterback in the same room this year, redshirt freshman Maalik Murphy. But Murphy entered the transfer portal earlier this month after sticking it out in this quarterback room for the last two years.

Murphy's departure via the transfer portal is an indictment on the craziness that is college football's current calendar. He couldn't take visits and prepare for the College Football Playoff with the Longhorns at the same time.

Texas football QB Arch Manning casts aside transfer rumors amid CFP prep for the Longhorns

The combination of the reports that Ewers is leaning toward returning to school for one more season in 2024 and the Murphy portal decision has sparked some unfounded rumors that Manning is considering transferring, too.

While there were never any substantiated rumors or reports that Manning was considering entering the transfer portal this offseason, that didn't stop some in the media from running with that narrative in the last few weeks.

Manning addressed these rumors himself in a much-followed media availability session a couple of days before Texas kicks off the CFP Semifinals at the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 against No. 2 Washington.

Arch straight up said that "I haven't looked into transferring at all". He's keeping his focus on preparing for Texas's run in the College Football Playoff this postseason.

Now that he is the backup quarterback, Arch is just one play away from getting thrust into the spotlight in the College Football Playoff. He needs to be ready for what lies ahead since Murphy is no longer in this quarterback room this postseason.

"He’s more than capable than playing really good football for us. I think the opportunity he had to play here against Tech showed what he’s capable of."

Head coach Steve Sarkisian showed confidence in Arch in the role of the backup quarterback for the College Football Playoff Semifinals against Washington on Jan. 1. Arch showed what he can do in live-game action against Power Five competition when he led a touchdown drive for Texas late in their game in the regular season finale on Black Friday against Texas Tech.