In a stunning turn of events, elite quarterback Arch Manning, who was previously committed to the Texas Longhorns, has announced he will join the Tennessee Volunteers as part of their 2025 recruiting class.
Manning’s decision ends months of speculation and comes as a major win for Tennessee, who beat out other SEC powerhouses Auburn and Alabama in the recruitment battle.
The 6-foot-4, 215-pound quarterback, regarded as one of the best prospects of his generation, brings with him the legacy of the Manning family name.
The nephew of NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning and the grandson of College Football Hall of Famer Archie Manning, Arch is widely seen as a potential program-changing player.
Sources close to the recruitment reveal that Manning was drawn to Tennessee’s innovative offensive scheme under head coach Josh Heupel, who has developed one of the most dynamic offenses in college football.
The Volunteers have also been rising as a top-tier SEC contender in recent years, which reportedly appealed to the star quarterback.
Manning originally committed to Texas in 2023, with plans to play for head coach Steve Sarkisian. However, whispers of a possible flip began to circulate after Texas’ struggles in marquee matchups and the rising prominence of Tennessee in the SEC.
With Manning now heading to Knoxville, the Volunteers secure a generational talent who could redefine their football program. Tennessee fans will undoubtedly draw comparisons to the success Peyton Manning brought to the program in the 1990s, creating high expectations for Arch to leave a similar legacy.
Manning is the highest-rated recruit to commit to Tennessee since Peyton, and his decision is expected to have a ripple effect on the Volunteers’ 2025 recruiting class. Tennessee will now shift focus to building around their prized quarterback to solidify their rise in college football’s elite ranks.
For Texas, the loss of Manning is a significant blow, while Alabama and Auburn will have to regroup after missing out on one of the most coveted recruits in the nation. The SEC battlefields are already heating up for 2025, and Manning’s decision makes Tennessee a team to watch closely.