Arch Manning made a significant impact in his college football debut. The redshirt freshman quarterback achieved his first touchdown pass and added another touchdown on the ground during Texas’s commanding 52-0 victory over Colorado State on Saturday.
Manning, the nephew of NFL greats Peyton and Eli Manning, took the field in the third quarter after starter Quinn Ewers helped establish a decisive 38-0 lead. The drive began at the Colorado State 49-yard line, where Manning executed a play-action fake before connecting with Johntay Cook II for a 40-yard gain.
On a critical third-and-goal play shortly after, Manning, recognizing tight coverage on his receivers, adeptly maneuvered out of the pocket. Instead of running the ball himself, he delivered a shovel pass to Silas Bolden, who dashed into the end zone for the score.
Manning continued to shine, orchestrating an impressive 11-play drive in the fourth quarter, culminating in a quarterback sneak from the 1-yard line for Texas’s final touchdown of the game.
The 19-year-old quarterback wrapped up his game with an impressive five completions on six attempts for a total of 95 yards. Despite speculation about a potential transfer before the 2024 season, especially with Ewers opting to remain at Texas, Manning confirmed his commitment to the Longhorns.
At the Manning Passing Academy earlier this year, Manning expressed his dedication to the program, stating, “It’s tough because you want to be out there playing with your boys… But it came down to realizing there’s nowhere else I want to be, and it was my dream to play at Texas.”
Looking ahead, Texas faces a formidable challenge in Week 2 as they prepare to take on reigning national champion Michigan in Ann Arbor next Saturday night.