After Quinn Ewers' Texas Longhorns opened the season with a thumping win over Colorado State, head coach Steve Sarkisian decided to give sophomore quarterback Arch Manning some playing time under center.
Manning, the nephew of NFL legends Peyton Manning and Eli Manning, did not disappoint in the first game of the new year.
Manning completed 5 of 6 passes for 95 yards and his first collegiate touchdown pass as the Longhorns beat the Rams 52-0 to get the season off to a strong start.
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University of Texas Longhorns guard Arch Manning throws a pass before a game against the Colorado State Rams at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas, in August 2024. (Tim Werner/Getty Images)
But Manning didn't just reach the end zone with an air pass: He scored his first career rushing touchdown.
Late in the third quarter, with the score at 38-0, Manning took the snap leading the Longhorns' offense on third down from the 5-yard line. As he scanned the field, he stepped into the pocket and appeared to be planning to run and score himself.
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But as he dove to his right, he spotted Silas Bolden alone near the right sideline and Manning delivered a shovel pass to Bolden, who made the catch and dove into the end zone for the score.
Then on fourth down of the fourth quarter, Manning stood at the 1-yard line and took advantage of a quarterback sneak to score a touchdown, Texas' final points of the day.
Manning quickly celebrated with his teammates, and the ESPN broadcast showed footage of cheering Texas fans in the stands, some of them holding banners featuring Manning's student ID card, a reference to an incident during his infamous college freshman year when he lost it on campus and went viral on social media.
Manning, a five-star recruit out of Isidore Newman School in New Orleans, where his father, Cooper Manning, and uncle played, played in just two games for the Longhorns last season with Ewers taking the team's starting role.
University of Texas Longhorns player Arch Manning arrives before the game against the Colorado State Rams at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on August 31, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Tim Werner/Getty Images)
Ewers remains a starter under coach Steve Sarkisian, who opted to return after the team's College Football Playoff loss to Washington, and he was productive in Saturday's win, completing 20 of 27 passes for 260 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
Manning was the No. 3 quarterback on the Longhorns' roster last season, but now serves as Ewers' backup after Malik Murphy transferred to Duke.
Ewers remains the starter for Texas, but performances like this one should give Manning more of a chance to win by a large margin this season.
Manning may not be a starter, but many college football fans are eager to see him start under center at Texas, with many assuming he would transfer to another university through the transfer portal.
Arch Manning of the University of Texas Longhorns throws a pass before a game against the Colorado State Rams at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on August 31, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Tim Werner/Getty Images)
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As of now, Manning is expected to be the Texans' starter next season, with Ewers expected to move on to the NFL after this season.
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