Desmond Howard rekindles Steve Sarkisian-NFL rumor, questions Arch Manning’s future

After Texas got a resounding win over Mississippi State in Week 9, the Longhorns have momentum heading into November. But there are still questions around the offense, which ranks 12th in the SEC in total yards per game. It’s been an up-and-down go for Arch Manning and the Longhorns this year. There has been speculation about what could lie ahead for him, whether it’s in the NFL Draft or another year in college, but ESPN’s Desmond Howard also raised questions about head coach Steve Sarkisian’s future. $39.99 gets you a FULL year of On3 | Rivals national coverage Howard rekindled the rumor around Sarkisian and the NFL, alluding to comments he made last year about the subject saying he might not have been “wrong, but may have been a little too early.” He also predicted Manning likely would not be in Austin in 2027, whether that means he goes to the draft or into the transfer portal. “I’m not sure if he’s going to be there a year from now,” Howard said of Manning on The Pat McAfee Show. “I think he may transfer if he’s not, what guys would say, ‘draft-eligible,’ as far as going high up in the draft. If he doesn’t like his draft status, then he’ll probably come back to college football. I would assume that after four years with Sarkisian, they would probably need to part ways. Watch on Fubo (Try for Free) “Now, I’m not sure how that’s going to happen. Is Sark going to take an NFL job? Is he going to stay in Austin and Arch is going to transfer? But I do not see these two together in the 2027 season.” Through eight games heading into Saturday’s game against Missouri, Manning has completed 64.8% of his passes for 1,727 yards and 15 touchdowns, to seven interceptions. It’s been another up-and-down year for Manning, who threw for 3,163 yards and 26 touchdowns, to seven picks, last year. But Desmond Howard also noted the reason why there are so many questions about Manning’s inconsistency this year. It’s his fourth year in Sarkisian’s system, and his second as the starter. Still, Howard said he’s not quite sure why Manning is making some of the mistakes he has. “It’s a big game,” Howard said. “It’s a big game for Sarkisian, it’s a big game for Arch. I think people don’t understand, they’ve kind of forgotten that Arch has been there, this is his fourth year there. “Like, four years in the same program, which we all know that’s unheard of nowadays with NIL and the transfer portal. And we’re still seeing him make these mistakes that, really, he has us scratching our heads, like, ‘Why did he throw that ball? Why did he put the ball there, that interception?’ Stuff like that.”