Arch Manning will be the starting quarterback for the No. 1-ranked Texas Longhorns this weekend as they take on Louisiana Monroe.
Manning, a redshirt freshman, is starting in place of junior Quinn Ewers, who has been the Longhorns’ undisputed starter at quarterback before going down last weekend with an oblique strain.
Saturday will mark the first start of Manning’s career and it’s undoubtedly going to be must-watch television. Not only is he a former five-star recruit and the nephew of Eli and Peyton Manning — two of the best to ever throw the football — but he proved last week in relief of Ewers that he has what it takes to be the real deal.
Manning completed 9-of-12 passes for 223 yards and four touchdowns against UTSA while also rushing for 53 yards and a score.
That leaves some questions as to whether or not Texas will have a “quarterback competition” once Ewers is fully healthy and ready to play again, but if you are to believe head coach Steve Sarkisian, it sounds like he’s still firmly backing Ewers.
“He’s in really good spirits,” Sarkisian said Thursday, according to Inside Texas. “One thing I try to impress upon Quinn is all the goals he had and that we’ve had for him coming into this season are all still there for him.”