Texas' Michael Taaffe claims Arch Manning is naive to NIL

USA Today

22-04-2025

Texas' Michael Taaffe claims Arch Manning is naive to NIL NIL isn't that much of importance at Texas.
As chaos continues to sweep college football's landscape with NIL disputes and rampant transfers, Texas quarterback Arch Manning is staying the course — even if it means walking away from potential millions.
The Longhorns' rising star remains committed to the program, despite national concerns that elite players might follow the money elsewhere in the wake of high-profile departures like Tennessee's Nico Iamaleava. Manning is committed to the Longhorns like never before.
Safety Michael Taaffe addressed the speculation head-on in a recent interview, defending the culture within Texas' locker room.
'In the day and age of college football right now, that is so cool, to know that a quarterback's saying that,' Taaffe said of Manning's declaration, 'I want to be at Texas.' 'We're so naive to that [NIL chaos]. Nobody talks about financials, nobody talks about the transfer portal. We have a great culture, we're bonded with one another.'
His comments reflect a stark contrast to the growing trend in college football, where NIL deals and transfer decisions often dominate headlines. Taaffe emphasized that if a former player walked into the current Texas locker room, it would feel the same as it did in the pre-NIL era — a nod to the team's emphasis on tradition and unity.
Texas will look to head right back to the College Football Playoff for the third year in a row, fresh off a semifinals run in back-to-back years including a conference title game in their first year in the SEC. Sarkisian and Co. will head to Columbus, OH to take on the defending national champions, Ohio State on Aug. 30. It will be the first start of Arch Manning's career as the team's official QB1.
While other programs navigate financial disputes and player turnover, Texas appears to be leaning into its identity: one rooted in culture, not contracts.