Is Texas QB Arch Manning going to enter the NCAA transfer portal with the spring window opening?

Despite never suggesting that he wants to enter the NCAA transfer portal, there's been plenty of speculation this offseason that Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning could enter the portal ahead of the 2024 season. 

The transfer portal is set to open on April 16 and it will remain open until April 30. If a player wants to transfer this offseason, he has to enter the portal before it closes at the end of April. Once a player is in the transfer portal, they can transfer to a new program at any time (even after the portal closes).  

(SEC players can only transfer to non SEC programs during the spring window. This rule does apply to Oklahoma and Texas.)

Manning, a former five-star recruit who signed with Texas during the 2023 recruiting cycle, is set to be the backup to Quinn Ewers in 2024. The reason for the speculation that Manning could transfer is because he won't be the starter in his second season at Texas with Ewers returning for one more season with the Longhorns. 

Fortunately for Texas fans, it doesn't appear that there's any legitimacy to the speculation that Manning could look to transfer. He appears to be happy at Texas. And his uncle, former NFL quarterback Eli Manning, noted earlier this offseason that while Arch is "itching" to play, he's being patient and waiting his turn at Texas. 

"He picked Texas because that’s where he wants to be, that’s where he wants to play football," said Eli on the Zach Gelb Show in February. "He likes Coach Sarkisian and his offense and what they’re doing. He knew last year that he was gonna go, he was gonna redshirt, get some playing time."

“Obviously, I think the plan was Ewers would maybe go to the NFL," added Eli. "But he’s there (for another year). It’s another year for for Arch to mature, learn the offense, get bigger and stronger in the weight room, and always be prepared to play. You never know what’s gonna happen. And so he's got to be ready. If not, then he gets some playing time here and there and he's got three more years of eligibility at a great school, at a great football program on the rise." 

"The fact that you can transfer so easily now doesn't mean you should do it just because you're not playing right away," continued Eli. "A lot of quarterbacks, when I was in college, that was always the game plan. You redshirt, you sit a year, you have three years of eligibility. That's what I did at Ole Miss and I think it helped me. And I think Arch, I know he wants to play and he's itching to get in there. But being patient, continuing to learn, can be very helpful as well." 

Arch loves Steve Sarkisian's offense at Texas. And he loves the city of Austin. He's going to get his turn to run the offense in 2025 (or maybe earlier...you never know how a season might play out). Transferring would make zero sense for Arch, which is why it's a scenario that just doesn't seem realistic for the New Orleans native.