Texas backup quarterback Arch Manning stepped in for the injured Quinn Ewers and led the No. 2 Longhorns to a commanding 56-7 victory over UTSA on Saturday night in Austin. Manning showcased his ability by passing for 223 yards and four touchdowns, as well as scoring a remarkable 67-yard rushing touchdown, marking his most significant playing time at the collegiate level. Ewers left the game in the second quarter due to an oblique strain after seeming to suffer the injury while making a pass.
The redshirt junior starter Ewers completed 14 of 16 passes for 185 yards, including two touchdowns and an interception, before leaving the game. Following his exit, Manning entered with just over 12 minutes remaining in the second quarter and quickly made an impact, finishing 9 of 12 passing with multiple touchdown connections. He began his night by throwing a 19-yard touchdown to receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. on his very first snap.
Manning showcased his speed on the next drive, evading a defender on a zone-read run for a 67-yard touchdown, which stands as the longest rush by a Texas quarterback since Vince Young accomplished the feat in 2005. The Longhorns led 28-7 at halftime, with Manning later connecting on touchdown passes of 51 yards to Isaiah Bond, 75 yards to Ryan Wingo, and 12 yards to Johntay Cook II in the fourth quarter.
Overall, Texas scored on five of Manning’s nine possessions, accumulating a total of 614 yards at an impressive 9.2 yards per play. Manning credited his teammates for his success, stating, “It helps when you have great players around you and good coaches.”
Manning, who is related to football legends Eli and Peyton Manning, appeared in two games during his redshirt season last year. He had thrown his first career touchdown pass in the season opener against Colorado State but had seen limited playing time before Saturday.
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian provided an update on Ewers’ injury, stating that the severity is still uncertain, although it doesn’t seem to involve any fractures. The Longhorns are set to conclude their nonconference schedule against UL Monroe next Saturday, before facing Mississippi State in their SEC debut.
Sarkisian mentioned that Ewers was in good spirits despite the injury, and expressed hope for his prompt return. Ewers, who has been the Longhorns’ starting quarterback for 25 games, previously dealt with shoulder injuries in both the 2022 and 2023 seasons. This season, he returned to Texas with the aim of winning a national championship after leading the program to a Big 12 title and a College Football Playoff appearance last year.
Ewers entered the weekend as a favorite for the Heisman Trophy but saw his odds drop significantly due to the injury. Meanwhile, Manning’s Heisman odds surged from 150-1 to 16-1 following his performance against UTSA. Miami quarterback Cam Ward emerged as the new consensus favorite for the award, listed at 5½-1.