Steve Sarkisian Breaks Silence on Arch Manning's Major Personal Decision
Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns put together an impressive college football campaign in 2024, playing their way to the College Football Playoff semifinals before ultimately falling to the eventual-champion Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl.
Before the 2024 season began, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers was featured on the cover of the EA Sports College Football 25 video game — alongside Colorado's Travis Hunter and Michigan's Donovan Edwards at the Cotton Bowl.
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Photos for the cover art of this year's edition of the game were taken at The Rose Bowl — and Texas QB Arch Manning received an invitation to be featured.
On Monday, Sarkisian revealed that he and Manning elected to decline the invitation.
Earlier this year, the deluxe edition of the cover was leaked on social media. The cover features several of the biggest names in the sport, including Jeremiah Smith, Caleb Downs, Ryan Williams, Nick Singleton, Jeremiyah Love, Bryce Underwood, DJ Lagway, Garrett Nussmeier, Sam Leavitt and Dylan Stewart. Prominent coaches Kirby Smart, Ryan Day, James Franklin, Dan Lanning and Kenny Dillingham were also featured on the cover.
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As two of the most high-profile names in college football, Sarkisian and Manning were certainly high on the list of EA's targets.
Manning is heading into his first season as a full-time starter for the Longhorns. The former No. 1 overall recruit committed to Sarkisian's program as the crowned jewel of his 2023 recruiting class and spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career as a backup for Ewers.
Through 10 games appearances in 2024, Manning completed 67.8% of his pass attempts for 939 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed for 108 yards and four touchdowns on 25 attempts.
Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) warms up against the Clemson Tigers during the College Football Playoff.Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Sarkisian hopes and expects Manning to put fourth an excellent season in 2025.
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"Here's what I hope," Sarkisian said on Monday. "I hope he's got a really hard decision to make around January 21. That means we played a long time. That means he played a really good season. And that means he's trying to figure out do I want one more year in the burnt orange or is it time to go to the NFL. I hope it's a really hard decision. I hope it's not a no-brainer to come back to school."
Texas will begin its 2025 college football campaign with a highly-anticipated matchup against Ohio State on Aug. 30.
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