Quinn Ewers, a Heisman Trophy hopeful, is sidelined as quarterback for Texas football, with highly regarded backup Arch Manning stepping in as the starter for at least one week.
As the first quarter concludes, Manning has already thrown for two touchdowns, and running back Jaydon Blue has added two scores for Texas (3-0), which holds a commanding lead over Louisiana-Monroe. Fans can follow the live updates as Manning and the Longhorns face off against the Warhawks.
Current score update:
– 1st Quarter: ULM 0, Texas 21
At the end of the first quarter, Texas has established a strong lead. Manning rebounded from an early interception, completing 8 of 12 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns, while the ULM offense has been stifled, accumulating only 27 yards on 13 plays.
Key plays include:
– 1:34 1Q: Manning connects with Ryan Wingo, who makes two catches for 42 yards in the drive, capped by a 17-yard touchdown, further extending Texas’s lead.
– 5:28 1Q: Anthony Hill Jr. intercepts a pass, which, despite returning for a touchdown being negated by a penalty, led to Manning finding Blue for a 3-yard touchdown pass—Blue’s second of the game.
– 7:11 1Q: Manning quickly made up for an earlier mistake with a strong 56-yard pass to Isaiah Bond, setting up a 1-yard touchdown run by Blue.
Jaydon Blue, returning from an ankle injury that kept him out of last week’s game, has been instrumental in the offense, tallying impressive stats throughout the season.
Injury updates indicate that safety Derek Williams Jr. will also miss the game due to a hamstring injury, which was not initially disclosed. Meanwhile, other running backs Jaydon Blue and Quintrevion Wisner warm up after being labeled “day to day” earlier in the week.
ULM quarterback General Booty, who previously played at Oklahoma, offers a semblance of stability to a struggling Warhawks offense. ULM has shown improvement in recent weeks, scoring 30 points in a season-opening win and defeating UAB 32-6 in their second matchup.
The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN+ and SEC Network+ with various streaming options available.
Historically, Texas leads the series against ULM 2-0, with their most recent victory on September 3, 2022, securing a dominant 52-10 win.
Predictions for the game lean heavily in favor of Texas, with estimations ranging from a Texas victory with a score of 45-0 to as high as 62-7.
In terms of betting, Texas is heavily favored with a spread of 44.5 points, and various injury concerns remain for both teams as they prepare for the matchup.
The weather in Austin is expected to be hot and humid, with temperatures in the mid-90s at kickoff.