From the outside looking in, the Texas Longhorns were at the center of one of college football’s most talked-about quarterback situations last season. Amidst heated debates, fans and analysts alike were calling for head coach Steve Sarkisian to make a pivotal switch from starting quarterback Quinn Ewers to none other than Arch Manning, the highly-touted nephew of NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning. During Ewers’ recovery from an oblique injury, Manning showcased his remarkable skills, displaying a cannon of an arm and impressive speed that had many convinced he could lead Texas to a championship.
Despite the mounting pressure to make a change, Sarkisian opted to stick with Ewers. The Longhorns fought valiantly through the season, ultimately falling just short of the title again, losing to Ohio State in the semifinal of the College Football Playoff. With Ewers declaring for the NFL draft, it set the stage for Arch Manning to seize the opportunity, leading to widespread anticipation about his upcoming role in the Longhorns’ offense.
During an appearance on Kay Adams’ “Up & Adams” show, Sarkisian made it clear that Manning is firmly in the mix to be the starting quarterback. “It’d be pretty tough for me to say he’s probably not gonna be our starting quarterback,” he stated. Manning, who stepped in under center on a couple of occasions last season, exhibited his talent, particularly in the first SEC game against Mississippi State when Ewers was dealing with minor injuries.
Sarkisian expressed confidence in Manning’s readiness for the challenge ahead: “I think he’s ready for the moment. We’ve got a pretty good team… We got a lot of work to do. We’re in February. We got a long way to go until the fall rolls around. But we’re in a good spot to have a pretty good football team. And it’s gonna be even better knowing he’s going to be the guy for us.”
While Sarkisian recognizes that Manning will need to earn the starting position, he remains optimistic about the young quarterback’s prospects. As it stands, Manning will be the only player on the roster with significant FBS experience, as his presumed backup, Trey Owens, attempted just four passes in his freshman campaign. The Longhorns are also set to welcome four-star freshman KJ Lacey into the mix, further intensifying the competition for the backup role.
With the clock ticking down to the start of the season, the Arch Manning era is officially set to kick off on August 30 against Ohio State in Columbus. Expectations are high, and Longhorn fans are eagerly waiting to see what the future holds for their formidable quarterback.
