In a highly anticipated moment, Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning made his first career start, stepping in for injured starter Quinn Ewers. As Texas fans held their breath, all eyes were on the young prospect to see how he would fare under the pressure.
Manning, who has been the talk of college football recruiting for years, was thrust into the spotlight during the Longhorns’ matchup against ULM. Though the game ended with a comfortable 51-3 victory, the performance from the quarterback stirred mixed reactions, especially from head coach Steve Sarkisian
The Texas coach didn’t hold back in his post-game comments, providing a glimpse into his initial impressions without having yet reviewed the game film. Sarkisian hinted that while Manning had moments of brilliance, his overall performance was far from flawless.
“We wanted to be aggressive. We took our shots down the field,” Sarkisian stated after the game. “Some connected, some didn’t. That’s part of the game. But Arch definitely made some tough decisions out there.”
Manning finished the game completing 15 of 29 passes, racking up 258 yards with two touchdowns. But with the good came the bad-two interceptions that caused some to question his decision-making, especially for someone with such an impressive football pedigree.
While Sarkisian acknowledged the need for some balance in Manning’s play, he also took responsibility for the aggressive game plan. “When you’re trying to go big down the field, you can fall into the trap of wanting to keep pushing it, and I think Arch did that tonight. Maybe we could have helped him by mixing in more short completions,” Sarkisian reflected.
The head coach pointed to key moments where Manning narrowly missed big plays, including a catch overturned by review and another ball just slipping off a receiver’s fingertips. Yet, Sarkisian admitted that these moments may have led the young QB to get “a little greedy” in his choices down the stretch.
“First start, big moments, it’s natural to want more,” Sarkisian said. “He’ll learn from this, and I’m confident he’ll recognize that sometimes it’s smarter to check it down and let the play develop differently.”
For a quarterback carrying a legendary last name, expectations are undoubtedly sky-high. But Sarkisian was quick to remind everyone that Manning is still learning, and growing pains are part of the process. “No one thought he’d be perfect,” the coach emphasized. “He’s young, he’s learning, and tonight was about gaining experience.”
The burning question now is what’s next for the Longhorns’ quarterback situation. With Mississippi State looming as their first SEC opponent next week, Sarkisian has yet to reveal if Manning will remain the starter or if Quinn Ewers will be healthy enough to return.
What’s certain is that Arch Manning’s debut, while promising in parts, showcased a young quarterback still finding his rhythm. And as Texas marches deeper into its season, the quarterback battle could be far from over.
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