Texas QB Arch Manning stole the show with his humor after beating Michigan at the 2026 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. The nephew of former Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning took a light-hearted dig at his uncle after winning the Citrus Bowl MVP.

“I think (Peyton) played it twice, I don't want to have to play it twice,” Arch stated during his post-game media session.

The answer came in after reporters asked the Texas star if he claimed bragging rights over his Hall of Fame uncle.

His cheeky delivery went viral instantly. Matching Uncle Peyton's specific bowl record means failing to make the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff structure two years straight.

28 years ago, before his illustrious 5-time NFL MVP pro-career, which ended with a Super Bowl-winning campaign with Denver, Peyton Manning famously starred for the Tennessee Volunteers, winning the same Citrus Bowl MVP honors in January 1997.

Peyton Manning was a familiar face at the Citrus Bowl. The Tennessee quarterback appeared in the game twice during his college career, earning trips following the 1995 and 1996 seasons as the Volunteers consistently remained among the nation's top programs.

Arch completely balled out during the 41-27 victory over the Wolverines, proving he is a true dual threat.

He threw for 221 yards and two touchdowns while racking up 155 rushing yards and two scores. No player in Citrus Bowl history had ever reached both milestones in one game.

The 10-3 Longhorns only ended up in Orlando due to a rocky regular season. Texas stumbled into a 3-2 start with early losses to Ohio State and Florida.

While Arch rallied late, a decisive November loss to Georgia officially slammed the door on their 2025 playoff push.

The $5.4 Million Brand and Texas' Clear 2026 Championship Push

Manning's on-field talent matches his staggering off-field brand power. On3 tracks his projected NIL valuation at $5.4 million, making him the highest-valued college athlete.

He solidified this number by signing a massive blockbuster corporate partnership deal with Google Gemini to start his offseason.

This tech partnership joins an elite corporate portfolio including Red Bull, Uber, Waymo, Raising Cane's, and Panini America.

“Obviously, you want to take advantage of what you can… but I'm focused on ball,” Manning previously stated about getting these big brand deals.

Despite his incredible earning potential, Manning made a sacrifice regarding internal team finances. The QB accepted a significantly lower House revenue-sharing payment.

This unselfish financial cut freed up funds for head coach Steve Sarkisian to build an absolute powerhouse roster around his young signal-caller.

Sarkisian used that extra cash to land elite high-skilled players like former five-star Auburn WR Cam Coleman.

Now, can the Longhorns bounce back from their bowl destination and secure a real playoff spot with Arch Manning in the pocket? Let us know your opinion in the comments below.

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Written by

Nisarga Aseem Barkule

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote