University of Texas quarterback Arch Manning (16) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Colorado State University during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Arch Manning is set to start for No. 1-ranked Texas.
The second-year freshman, who dazzled the Longhorns in his two games off the bench, will make his first career start on Saturday night when Texas (3-0) plays against University of Louisiana-Monroe (2-0) as regular starter Quinn Ewers continues to recover from an abdominal strain.
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday he wants to give Ewers at least another week of rest before Texas opens SEC play against Mississippi State on Sept. 28.
And for at least this week, the Longhorns will be in the hands of Manning, the grandson of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning and nephew of Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Eli Manning, who was also the highest-rated player coming out of high school after the 2022 season.
Texas is ranked No. 1 for the first time since three straight weeks during the 2008 season.
“Archie is more than capable,” Sarkisian said. “I don’t think he needs to focus on leadership right now. I think he needs to focus on knowing what he needs to do and executing it at a high level.”
Manning has been nothing short of magical in his first two starts this season.
He recorded his first career passing and running touchdowns in a mop-up role in the season opener against Colorado State and then had four passing touchdowns and a 67-yard TD run last week against UTSA after Ewers was injured in the second quarter. Manning is 14 of 18 for 318 yards and five touchdowns.
“I know he’s more than ready for the challenge of being a starter,” Sarkisian said.
Texas will be ULM’s first top-ranked opponent in program history. First-year head coach Bryant Vincent added 73 new players to the team, including 17 junior college transfers and 13 from four-year programs. The Warhawks were 2-10 last season.
Not only a passer but also a runner
Warhawks defensive coordinator Ernest Hill is tasked with crafting a game plan to confuse a young, inexperienced quarterback. Manning is not only a good passer, he’s also fast — he rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown last week — and Hill said his defense won’t be intimidated.
“We actually have some guys on our team who played against him in New Orleans and we’ve already got some guys who beat him, so they’re not really scared of him,” Hill said. “It’s going to be fun to play against a guy like him.”
General Booty
ULM quarterback General Booty has thrown just 30 passes through two games and will need to be sharp against a Longhorns defense that already has an SEC-high five interceptions. Booty originally signed with Oklahoma out of junior college and played just two games there before transferring to ULM in May.
The Longhorns’ offensive line must protect Manning.
The Longhorns’ offensive line has to protect Manning. Texas may have the best 1-2 quarterback combination in the country, but anything that puts Manning in a bind is going to make the depth nervous. Manning took two hard shots from UTSA, and Ewers’ strained oblique muscle came on a throw that wasn’t touched. Freshman Trey Owens is next on the depth list.
Flamboyant freshman Jerrick Gibson
Texas freshman tailback Jerrick Gibson has been the most productive player in the backfield since C.J. Baxter and Christian Kirk were sidelined for the season with training camp injuries. Gibson ran for 178 yards and two touchdowns. He was the only Longhorns running back to run for more than 79 yards. Coach Sarkisian hopes Gibson can learn to avoid tacklers instead of running into them.
“Jerrick is like a baby rhino in the open field right now. He just puts his head down and runs straight at the defender,” Sarkisian said. “Trying to get past him will be no problem for him.”
Solid defence
Both teams have allowed just two touchdowns this season. The Longhorns have allowed just 19 points after opening the season without a score for the first time in 20 years. Texas also scored its first defensive touchdown of the season on a 30-yard interception return by defensive end Ethan Burke against UTSA.
