One of the biggest questions of the college football offseason was answered with a simple text message. University of Texas fans have been waiting with bated breath to find out if prized quarterback Arch Manning would be returning for another season in Austin. "Arch is playing football at Texas next year," the quarterback's father, Cooper Manning, said via text to ESPN's Dave Wilson on the evening of Monday, December 15. Arch - the 21-year-old nephew of former NFL quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning and the grandson of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning - was eligible to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft as a redshirt sophomore, which some experts placing him high on their draft boards. Why the Staff Member at the Center of Sherrone Moore Scandal Wasn't Fired One of the most hyped college football recruits in recent history, Arch started all 12 games for the Longhorns in the 2025 season. After a sluggish and underwhelming start to the season, Arch played his best football as the season progressed. Texas finished with a 9-3 record, winning six of their final seven games. Texas lost to Ohio State and Georgia - two teams in the College Football Playoff field - but a loss to a less-than-stellar Florida team in October ultimately cost them a chance to make the playoff field themselves. The Longhorns are currently preparing to face the University of Michigan in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on New Year's Eve. Shortly before Arch's decision was officially revealed, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian explained why returning for another season would benefit the young quarterback. "He's a young man who's gotten better as the season's gone on, and not only physically, but mentally, maturity-wise," Sarkisian, 51, said at a Citrus Bowl media event on Monday. "I would think he's going to want another year of that growth to put himself in position for hopefully a long career in the NFL. And he's got some unfinished business of what he came here to do and what he came here to accomplish." Sarkisian added, "We had a really good football season. We left some meat on the bone with an opportunity to be SEC champs, national champs, and so ultimately for him, I think the competitor in him is going to say, 'Man, I sure would like another crack at trying to do those things.'" Arch credited Sarkisian for having his back throughout the season after a 27-17 win over then-No. 3 Texas A&M on November 28. "I'm forever grateful for him," Manning told reporters. "It [would be] easy for him when I wasn't playing well, I was missing throws and probably making his play calls look bad, he could throw me under the bus, but he never did. He always uplifted me." Arch added, "He never blamed it on me in the media or anything. We just kept chopping wood." Travis Kelce Refused to Talk to Reporters After Being Eliminated From Playoffs Following the big win over in-state rival Texas A&M, Arch lobbied for his team to be included in the College Football Playoff field. "If you let us in, we can beat anyone," Arch told reporters. "If you don't think we're one of the best 12 teams in the country, I don't know what to tell you." Ultimately, Texas finished No. 13 in the final College Football Playoff rankings, needing to crack the top 10 for an at-large bid in this year's bracket. With confirmation that he's returning for another season, Arch will get another chance to help earn Texas the school's first national championship since 2005.