There was a time when Georgia would have loved nothing more than to have Arch Manning wearing a Bulldogs uniform.
The legacy quarterback was highly recruited by Kirby Smart and Georgia, and for a while, it looked like Arch would be playing his Saturdays at Sanford Stadium. Manning, however, chose Texas instead. It was a disappointing recruiting loss at the time, considering Manning's pedigree and the expectations surrounding his future.
Three years later, Georgia might be better off leaving that recruiting battle in the past.
With Manning struggling to live up to expectations at Texas and speculation growing about his future with the Longhorns, there's at least a possibility that he could find his way into the transfer portal after the 2026 season.
And if he does, Smart shouldn't feel the slightest obligation to pick up the phone.
Arch Manning's struggles at Texas should give Georgia plenty of pause
The possibility of Manning becoming available would have seemed almost unthinkable when he arrived in Austin as one of the most sought-after and prominent quarterback recruits in recent memory.
But three years later, there are legitimate questions about whether he's even the best option for the Longhorns moving forward. That's a flip no one saw coming.
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian opened the door to evaluating Manning following consecutive losses to Oklahoma and Florida. Although Sarkisian has since reaffirmed that Manning is his starter, the fact that his job security was even a topic of conversation tells you how far things have fallen.
Through six games this season, Manning has thrown for 1,295 yards, 11 touchdowns, and five interceptions, while completing 63.9 percent of his passes. Those aren't disastrous numbers, but they certainly aren't the type of lofty stats many expected from a quarterback who entered the season with Heisman Trophy aspirations as well as a projected No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick.
His performance against Florida was especially troubling. Manning threw for just 173 yards and one touchdown in a 27-24 loss, with a late fumble helping seal the Longhorns' loss. This was just a week after a late interception halted a chance for Texas to take the lead against Oklahoma.
The performances this season have been spotty at best, and while Manning deserves credit for the improvement he showed during stretches of last season, the inconsistency this year has become difficult to ignore.
None of this means Manning is incapable of eventually becoming a successful college quarterback. He still has physical tools and experience that would interest plenty of programs. But there's a vast difference between believing a player still has potential and deciding he's worth building your offense around.
Kirby Smart shouldn't get caught chasing the Arch Manning hype again
There's something almost ironic about the possibility of Georgia getting another opportunity to recruit Manning.
Three years ago, landing him would have been considered a massive victory for Smart and his staff. He was the kind of prospect programs were willing to build their recruiting classes around, and his commitment would have generated enormous excitement in Athens.
But recruiting rankings and famous last names don't win football games. Production does, and Manning simply hasn't produced. What Manning has shown at Texas hasn't come close to consistently matching the expectations that followed him coming out of high school.
So, Georgia's original pursuit wasn't a mistake. Manning was an elite prospect, and just about every major program in the country was after him and would have welcomed him at the time.
However, It does mean the Bulldogs have a lot more information to work with now.
If Georgia decides it needs quarterback help through the transfer portal, Smart should be looking for someone who gives his offense the best chance to win, not someone who would have made headlines on National Signing Day three years ago.
There's no doubt we would see plenty of excitement surrounding a potential Manning transfer. His name alone would make him one of the biggest offseason stories in college football, regardless of where he landed.
Kirby Smart doesn't want to win a publicity contest; he wants to win football games. He doesn't want to spend NIL money just for the sake of a splash; he wants players who are deserving to be rewarded.
Maybe Manning eventually figures everything out and becomes the quarterback that many believed he would be? There's still time for that to happen, whether at Texas or somewhere else. But if his time with the Longhorns does end this year, Georgia should be perfectly comfortable letting another program take that chance.
Add us as a preferred source on Google