Texas coach makes shocking reveal about Arch Manning’s NIL deal

Everyone thought Arch Manning was Scrooge McDuck, but Texas’ head coach revealed they are actually getting a hefty discount.

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

Arch Manning is making just $2 million in money directly from Texas. Getty Images

Manning is reportedly making $2 million this year from Texas, far less than previously estimated, which was projected between $5.5 million and $6.8 million, the most among any college football player.

Though Manning is surely getting sponsorship deals elsewhere that can inflate that figure to a more competitive one, it’s still a massive discount.

Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith is projected to make the second most in NIL money, raking in $4.2 million.

With Manning choosing to take a massive pay cut, Texas is able to redistribute that money to former Auburn star receiver Coleman, as well as NC State running back Hollywood Smothers.

Manning came into college with loads of fanfare as the nephew of football royalty, Peyton and Eli Manning, who may both be future Hall of Famers — as Peyton made it in 2001 and his little brother is has been a finalist the past two years.

Steve Sarkisian reveals that Arch Manning is giving the Texas Longhorns a discount. AP

The Texas quarterback is entering his junior season after a tough start last year, but he ended the year on a high note.

Expectations are sky-high again for Manning and the Longhorns entering the 2026 season, as many expect him to be the top pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

“I think I could have had more fun,” Manning said recently of his beginning to the 2025 season. “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.”

After barely getting past Kentucky, Texas averaged 35 points per game the rest of the season — winning five of six, which culminated with a win over Michigan in the Citrus Bowl.

“Ninety-nine percent of kids would have melted last year if they had to endure what he endured, and all Arch did was get stronger,” Sarkisian continued to On3.