Rocky Top will be crowded with Manning family ties on Saturday when Tennessee hosts Texas at Neyland Stadium. Peyton Manning, the former Tennessee quarterback and five-time NFL MVP, is expected to be among the notable attendees as his alma mater faces the top-ranked Longhorns. Meanwhile, on the field, his nephew Arch Manning will make his Rocky Top debut leading Texas.
Arch Manning, Texas’s starting quarterback and the son of Peyton’s older brother Cooper Manning, has compiled a 13-3 record as a starter over the past two seasons. He has won each of his last six starts dating back to November 22 against Arkansas last year. This season, Manning has thrown for 661 yards and seven touchdowns in just three games, an improvement on his start last year that has put him in early Heisman Trophy conversations.
Tennessee, ranked 13th nationally, will try to spoil Texas’s arrival in Knoxville and open SEC play with a statement victory over Steve Sarkisian’s Longhorns. Sarkisian is making his first trip to Neyland as Texas’s head coach. The game kicks off at noon ET on September 26.
Arch Manning’s connection to Peyton Manning adds a layered narrative to the matchup. Peyton played college football at Tennessee, breaking from the family tradition as his father Archie Manning and younger brother Eli both played at Ole Miss. Cooper Manning, Arch’s father and Peyton’s older brother, had committed to Ole Miss as well but never played due to a spinal stenosis diagnosis.
Peyton Manning’s college career at Tennessee included a 39-6 record, 11,201 passing yards, and 89 touchdown passes. He held the SEC’s career passing record until 2004 and was the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.
The family presence at Neyland Stadium will be significant. Peyton’s legacy looms large for Tennessee fans, while Arch’s rising profile at Texas offers a chance for the younger Manning to carve out his own path. The matchup pits the top-ranked Longhorns against a Volunteers team eager to prove themselves in the SEC.
The game will also test Texas’s ability to maintain momentum after a strong start and Tennessee’s resolve against a nationally ranked opponent. Arch Manning’s performance will be watched closely as he faces the program where his uncle became a legend.
This meeting between Texas and Tennessee carries more than just conference implications. It’s a rare moment where two generations of the Manning family intersect on college football’s biggest stage.
The latest update confirms Peyton Manning will attend the game, adding further intrigue to the Rocky Top showdown.
According to Yahoo Sports.