Steve Sarkisian Reveals That Longhorns Got Big Discount On Arch Manning’s NIL Deal

Texas Longhorns head football coach Steve Sarkisian revealed that his quarterback, Arch Manning, is not making as much as one might expect from a top quarterback in a recent interview.

Sarkisian told On3 on Thursday, “Arch could have dragged us over the coals for six million, seven million, whatever he wanted.”

“That’s an extra five million that I can go get a Cam Coleman, go get a Hollywood Smothers, and go get a Rasheem Biles.”

Manning is projected to make roughly $2 million in NIL earnings this season, significantly less than the previously projected $5.5-$6.8 million, which would have been the highest deal among college players.

This is a massive discount for Texas, and that allowed them to be more aggressive in the transfer portal and have one of the best portal classes in the country, if not the best.

Manning is going into his junior season, and the expectations are through the roof after a disappointing beginning to the season last year. Manning is expected to follow in his uncle’s footsteps, Peyton and Eli Manning, as he is projected to be the top overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

The junior QB spoke on his disappointing 2025 season, saying, “I think I could have had more fun.”

“The first half of the season, I was pissed. I wasn’t playing well. It wasn’t fun. I said screw it, had a little more fun, and started winning some games.… I think it was after Kentucky, we got together and said, ‘We’ve just got to have fun. This hasn’t been fun.’ We all got closer as an offense and as a team with Jack Endries and all those guys. I think we started to play better and that y’all could see it on the field.”

Texas is currently in the middle of its spring practices as it prepares for its upcoming season, hoping it will be a big one for Manning and the entire team.