Texas QB Arch Manning says he's feeling '100 percent' after foot surgery

Manning said his body is as strong as it's been since he had what school officials said was a minor procedure in January.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 12:35am

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting the overlapping planes and angles of a college football quarterback's throwing motion, rendered in the bold colors of the Texas Longhorns uniform.A cubist interpretation of Texas quarterback Arch Manning's throwing motion captures the dynamic energy and precision of the young star's game.Austin Today

Texas quarterback Arch Manning is doing light workouts so far in spring practice following offseason foot surgery. Manning said his body is as strong as it's been since he had what school officials said was a minor procedure in January. He is coming off his first season as the Longhorns' full-time starter, where he passed for 3,163 yards and 26 touchdowns and ran for 10 TDs in 2025.

Why it matters

As the nephew of NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning, Arch Manning is one of the most highly touted college football prospects in recent memory. His health and performance will be closely watched as Texas aims to build on its 10-3 season and return to the College Football Playoff.

The details

While Manning waits to do more on the field, he's been focused on mental reps, footwork drills and getting to know some of his new teammates. He described the 2025 season as a 'roller coaster', saying he 'wasn't playing well and it wasn't fun' in the first half, before turning things around in the second half.

  • Manning had a minor foot surgery in January 2026.
  • Manning is doing light workouts so far in spring practice in 2026.

The players

Arch Manning

The starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns, and the nephew of NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning.

Texas Longhorns

The college football team that Arch Manning plays for, which finished the 2025 season ranked No. 12 in the country with a 10-3 record.

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What they’re saying

“I feel 100 percent right now. We're kind of taking it slow, but if we had a game today I'd be playing.”

— Arch Manning, Texas Quarterback

“It was hard the first few weeks just not being able to do anything. Now I get to do a little bit more.”

— Arch Manning, Texas Quarterback

“I think I could have had more fun. The first half of the season, I was (ticked). I wasn't playing well and it wasn't fun for me. And then I kind of sort of said 'screw it' and had a little more fun and started winning some games.”

— Arch Manning, Texas Quarterback

What’s next

As Manning continues his recovery, the focus will be on him regaining full health and building chemistry with his new teammates ahead of the 2026 season. Texas will be looking to Manning to lead them back to the College Football Playoff after narrowly missing out last year.

The takeaway

Arch Manning's health and performance will be critical for Texas as they aim to build on their 10-3 season and return to the top of the college football landscape. The young quarterback's ability to bounce back from a roller coaster 2025 campaign and lead the Longhorns to new heights will be closely watched by fans and scouts alike.