Peyton Manning reveals nephew Arch Manning’s true feelings over serving as Quinn Ewers’ backup with Texas Longhorns

NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning has opened up on his nephew Arch Manning being the backup for the Texas Longhorns. Arch is entering his second season at Texas but is the backup to Quinn Ewers.

Ewers is one of the top quarterbacks in college football and projects to be a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft. When Ewers returned to Texas for the 2024 season, many wondered if Arch would transfer to be a starter.

However, Arch Manning remained at Texas as he will be the Longhorns' backup quarterback this season and take over as the starter in 2025.

According to Peyton Manning, Arch Manning wants to play for Texas and believes learning from Ewers will help him.

“I think he wants to play and establish himself first. They got a good team this year, I’m a big fan of Quinn. I’ve gotten to know him. He comes down to our camp. The two of them get along great. I’m proud of him for staying there. Most kids probably transfer in that setting.

"But he stayed there, he likes playing for Sark [Steve Sarkisian], he likes the system. When he does get in there, he’s going to benefit from having that continuity," Manning said on Bussin' With the Boys.

Manning did play in Texas' blowout win in Week 1 as he went 5-for-6 for 95 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for a touchdown.

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Texas HC expects Arch Manning to play in 2024

Although Arch Manning is the backup quarterback for the Longhorns, coach Steve Sarkisian expects the QB to play in 2024.

Manning was a redshirt freshman in 2023 but is now the true backup, and Sarkisian has heaped praise on both Manning and Ewers for their relationship with each other.

"These guys are great, great friends. Nobody gets along better," Sarkisian said to ESPN. "There's a real level of appreciation for what each guy is doing. Because they know the journey, they know the path, they know how we coach him...

"From Archer's perspective, he's watching Quinn have to go through some of the adversity, having a fight through injury, having to deal with the criticism of being the quarterback of Texas, so to see him have success, I think Arch is fired up for Quinn. So in the end, we're probably going to need both those guys at some point this season."

Texas is tied for the third-best odds of winning the national championship at +750. The Longhorns will go on the road to play the Michigan Wolverines in Week 2 in a pivotal game.