For the first time in nearly three decades, a Manning wearing No. 16 will take the field at Neyland Stadium. Arch Manning, nephew of Peyton Manning, will lead No. 1 Texas against No. 14 Tennessee on Saturday, donning the jersey number his uncle made famous at Tennessee. Peyton’s number 16 is one of only eight retired by the Volunteers, but Arch will be wearing a burnt orange shade from the Longhorns, not the Volunteers’ brighter orange.
Peyton Manning stirred headlines this summer when he openly said he would set aside his lifelong allegiance to Tennessee for this game to support Arch. “Nothing is more important than your family,” Peyton said at the Manning Passing Academy in June. “I love my university and my alma mater and pull for them unconditionally, but nothing is more important to me than my family. When you have a nephew playing, I pull very hard for him every single Saturday.”
Peyton’s comments drew mixed reactions among Tennessee fans on social media. Some embraced his stance, while others felt the Tennessee legend had turned his back on the Volunteers. Jim Zasowski, a Tennessee alumnus from 1982, said he expected Peyton’s loyalty to his nephew. “Did it surprise me to hear that? Absolutely not. I think the family does things right,” Zasowski told SCN. He estimated only about 10 percent of fans expressed disappointment.
Shelton Sanders, a 2015 Tennessee graduate, echoed this view. “We all know Peyton’s stance and take on Tennessee,” Sanders said. “He loves the university. He loves the state. But family comes first, and that’s where you put your support. And so I don’t blame one bit.”
The Manning family’s close-knit nature provides context for Peyton’s position. Peyton has long been an ambassador for Tennessee football and has earned goodwill for his contributions. It’s understandable he would back Arch in a high-pressure moment like this.
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian addressed the topic during Monday’s press conference. He said Arch’s focus remains on the game rather than the family spotlight. “I don’t think he’s going to care too much about that,” Sarkisian said. “Don’t take anything away from Peyton. I don’t think he’s thought much about how he’s playing at Tennessee. I’m sure it’ll be a cool moment for the family. I don’t think Arch cares that much. I think he cares about playing really good for his teammates and being connected with his team.”
The wider college football world and Tennessee fans will be watching closely as Arch takes the field in Neyland Stadium, where Peyton became a legend. Zasowski called it “kind of a cool thing” and noted the Manning name carries significant weight in Knoxville. “I think it’s just great for college football, to be honest with you.”
For younger fans who never saw Peyton play, the impact remains clear. Sanders said he’s watched multiple highlight reels with the iconic Tennessee announcer John Ward calling the plays. “I think it does,” Sanders said, “just because of how much Peyton meant to Tennessee and still does mean to Tennessee.”
Arch will face the usual hostility that any No. 1 ranked visiting quarterback encounters at Neyland Stadium. “I think it’s booing Texas,” Zasowski said. “Anybody coming in ranked No. 1 into Neyland is going to hear it from the crowd.”
Saturday’s game will be the first time since Peyton’s final appearance in 1997 that a Manning wearing No. 16 steps onto Neyland’s turf. Peyton’s support for Arch adds an unusual family dynamic to one of college football’s fiercest rivalries.
According to CBS.