December 2, 2023; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) in action during the game between the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma State Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Photo credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports There is an unspoken rule among all starting quarterbacks.
“Never let them see the backup.”
While Texas likely won’t replace starting quarterback Quinn Ewers, who was out with an abdominal strain in the first half of the Longhorns’ blowout win over UTSA, Arch Manning has shown us what the future of Texas football looks like.
And it’s damn great.
Because of the abdominal strain, Ewers will probably not be out for long. It is only a torn muscle fiber.
But Manning didn’t leave much to be desired in his first real opportunity to play. He saw the opportunity and kicked the door down. It was a small sample size, but in Stephen Sarkisian’s offense, Manning looked like the future face of college football. A Heisman Trophy candidate. A can’t-miss NFL quarterback candidate.
Even New York Giants fans are clamoring for their team to draft Manning, even though he is technically a freshman after not being a player last season.
Manning’s first three plays were nothing short of electrifying. A touchdown pass, a handoff and a 67-yard touchdown run that nearly broke the internet. But seriously, Manning doesn’t normally move like that.
When a starting quarterback goes down, everyone usually holds their breath. That should especially be the case with Ewers, who makes Texas the second-best team in the nation with legitimate aspirations for the national championship.
But the hype surrounding Manning is unrealistic. He is certainly the most well-known backup quarterback in recent memory. And he has delivered what he can right away. The future of Texas football – and frankly college football – is in good hands with another Manning at the helm.
The Longhorns didn’t just beat UTSA. They dismantled them. Manning threw for 223 yards and four touchdowns, completing 75 percent of his passes. Ewers had 185 yards himself before leaving the game and added two touchdown passes.
Next, Texas has LA-Monroe. After that, they have Mississippi State, an SEC school that was just dominated by Toledo in a game where they paid $1.2 million only to be embarrassed on their home field.
If the Longhorns wanted to rest Ewers, they would have that luxury. Based on what was recorded Saturday night, Manning should have no problem with the next two matchups. The Longhorns have a game against current No. 15 Oklahoma on Oct. 12, followed by a showdown with the Georgia Bulldogs. One has to imagine they want Ewers in uniform, healthy and ready to play for those games.
Ewers is eligible for the NFL Draft after this season and is considered a promising quarterback. There are still so many games left this year for a team with title aspirations, but it’s hard not to dream a little about what the future might look like.
