Texas A&M floated as a 2027 landing spot for Texas QB Arch Manning if Longhorns slide

Back-to-back losses have put Arch Manning's future at Texas up for debate, and Texas A&M has now come up as one possible landing spot. Aggies Wire reports that the hosts of "That SEC Podcast," Michael Bratton and Cousin Shane, put the Aggies on a list of programs that could go after the junior quarterback in 2027. Their scenario depends on two things: Texas missing the College Football Playoff for a second straight year, and the Longhorns possibly moving on from coach Steve Sarkisian.

Take the idea for what it is. It is talk-show speculation. No school, player or agent has said anything about it. Aggies Wire writer Cameron Ohnysty doubts Texas A&M would be part of any real pursuit. He notes that Oklahoma, LSU, Ole Miss, South Carolina and Tennessee could all be in the mix, and that Manning's grandfather and uncle both played at Ole Miss. Pro Football Network has covered similar talk: after the Oklahoma loss, FOX Sports Radio host Jason Smith suggested Manning might transfer rather than enter the 2027 NFL Draft.

The speculation comes from Manning's last two games. Texas lost 27-24 to Oklahoma and then 27-24 to Florida. Aggies Wire reports he threw for 173 yards and one touchdown against Florida. Bleacher Report reports that Texas gave up a 14-point first-half lead against the Gators, and that Manning lost a fumble late in the fourth quarter while Texas was trying to tie the game. Sarkisian kept Manning as the starter over KJ Lacey Jr. on Monday but told reporters he would "evaluate everything," according to Bleacher Report.

What it means for Saturday

This is a long-term question, but both teams have more pressing problems this weekend. Texas (4-2) hosts No. 7 Ole Miss on ABC. In its first four games the team looked like a playoff contender, beating No. 1 Ohio State 24-23 and winning 20-17 at No. 14 Tennessee. Then it lost two straight one-score games, and a third loss would make the playoff scenario behind all this talk look more likely. The market still has Texas narrowly ahead. On the game board, Novig lists the Longhorns as -147 favorites and -3.5 at +108. The best Texas spread price is Pinnacle's -113 at -3. Ole Miss is +144 on Novig and +146 at Polymarket. The 12 venues are close: spreads run between 3 and 3.5 points, and the total sits between 53.5 and 54.5.

Texas A&M (4-3) has a harder trip to No. 13 Alabama. The Aggies have handled teams they were expected to beat, including a 41-0 win over The Citadel last week. Against ranked opponents on the road, they lost 35-6 at LSU and 27-6 at Missouri. The board has Alabama as a heavy favorite at -525 on Novig, with the Aggies +488. Novig sets the spread at 13.5, with Texas A&M at +104. Hard Rock Bet has the best number for the Aggies at +14.5 (-120), and its total of 49.5 is a point below Novig's 50.5.

Texas A&M's offense has scored six points in each of its last two games against ranked teams, which helps explain why a quarterback with Manning's name is being linked to College Station. For now, both programs have to get through Saturday first.