AUSTIN, Texas — Arch Manning made a memorable debut as the starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns, throwing for 258 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions in a dominant 51-3 victory over UL Monroe. His performance came while filling in for the injured Quinn Ewers, helping the No. 1 ranked Longhorns improve to 4-0.
After a rocky start that included an interception on his first drive, Manning found his rhythm, leading the Longhorns to touchdowns on six out of ten possessions. By the time he exited the game early in the fourth quarter, Texas enjoyed a comfortable 44-3 lead. The redshirt freshman completed 15 out of 29 passes during the game.
Reflecting on his performance, Manning noted he would have liked to redo several throws, particularly his first interception, which was caught by ULM’s defensive back Carl Fauntroy. When asked to assess his play, Manning quipped, “Probably a C-plus, but a win’s a win.”
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian emphasized the importance of Manning’s preparation and acknowledged the challenges of stepping into a starting role. “To think he was going to come out and play a perfect game, I don’t think anybody thought that. He was going to have some lessons learned, and I think that’s what tonight was about,” Sarkisian remarked.
This game marked Texas’ first outing as the top-ranked team in the Associated Press Top 25 since 2008, and Manning’s efforts were bolstered by strong performances from teammates. Running back Jaydon Blue contributed significantly, rushing for 124 yards and scoring four touchdowns. Additionally, Texas’ defense stifled the Warhawks, limiting them to a mere 111 total yards and 2.2 yards per play.
Sarkisian noted that Manning was encouraged to take aggressive shots downfield, and the former five-star recruit succeeded in connecting on eight passes of 15 or more yards, including a significant 56-yard pass to Isaiah Bond. Manning managed to connect with 11 different receivers throughout the game.
“Having so many playmakers around you definitely boosts my comfort level,” Manning stated. “We had a bunch of different receivers catching balls tonight. Just getting them in space and letting them make plays is huge.”
Ewers had exited last week’s 56-7 victory over UTSA with an oblique strain, and his status remains day-to-day, potentially allowing him to return for Texas’ SEC debut against Mississippi State next week. Meanwhile, Manning had shared SEC Freshman of the Week honors after throwing for 276 total yards and five touchdowns against UTSA in Ewers’ absence.
Following their first SEC matchup, Texas will have a bye week before facing No. 15 Oklahoma and No. 2 Georgia in consecutive games.
The Longhorns, who are aspiring for a national championship, have exceeded expectations through four contests, outscoring opponents 190-22 and showcasing dominance in their toughest matchup against then-No. 10 Michigan with a 31-12 victory. With a record of 16 wins in their last 18 games, Sarkisian expressed confidence in his team’s talent, depth, and maturity, emphasizing the need for continued focus.
“I’m pleased with where we’re at, but it’s like everything I just told the team: The mission is far from over,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do and a lot of great games ahead of us.”