Arch Manning will lead the Texas Longhorns against Tennessee at Neyland Stadium on September 26, drawing attention not only for his performance but as the latest figure in a legendary football family. The No. 1 Longhorns and No. 13 Volunteers both enter the game undefeated at 3-0, setting the stage for a high-profile showdown.
Arch, the star quarterback for Texas, is the latest in the Manning dynasty, a lineage that includes his grandfather Archie Manning, and his great-uncles Peyton and Eli Manning. Archie Manning, the family patriarch, was a standout quarterback at Ole Miss from 1968 to 1970, earning two first-team All-SEC selections and SEC Player of the Year honors in 1969. He was selected second overall in the 1971 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints and played 13 seasons, including two Pro Bowl appearances.
Peyton Manning, perhaps the most accomplished of the family, is a familiar figure to Tennessee fans. As the university’s most prolific passer, Peyton was the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft and won two Super Bowls, five MVP awards, and started 186 of 265 games in his NFL career. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021 and remains connected to the Vols, frequently visiting Knoxville for support and involvement in campus initiatives.
Eli Manning, Peyton’s younger brother, also played at Ole Miss. In his senior season, Eli led the SEC in passing yards and touchdowns and placed third in Heisman Trophy voting. He was the first overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers but was traded to the New York Giants, where he played 15 seasons. Eli threw for 57,023 yards and 266 touchdowns, winning two Super Bowls and earning MVP honors in both games. His No. 10 jersey was retired by Ole Miss in 2021.
Cooper Manning, the eldest of Archie’s sons and father of Arch, did not play college or professional football due to a spinal stenosis diagnosis that ended his playing career early. A former high school wide receiver, Cooper committed to Ole Miss before his health issues. Peyton honored his older brother by wearing the No. 18 jersey, which Cooper had worn in high school, during his NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts.
Arch Manning, now the starting quarterback for Texas, entered college with a five-star recruiting pedigree from Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans. He faced early challenges in his first season but has improved significantly in 2026, completing 61.5 percent of his passes for 661 yards, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions in the first three games. Scouts project him as a first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Marshall Manning, Peyton’s son and the youngest in the Manning quarterback lineage, is a freshman at the Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He plays on the same high school team as five-star running back David Gabriel Georges, who is committed to Tennessee. Marshall serves as the backup quarterback behind four-star Ole Miss commit Keegan Croucher and has a twin sister named Mosley.
The upcoming game will bring the family’s story full circle, with Arch Manning leading Texas against Tennessee, where Peyton forged his legacy. The match on September 26 promises to be more than just a game, with the Manning family’s history woven through both programs.
According to Yahoo Sports.