The Texas Longhorns will start redshirt freshman quarterback Arch Manning in Saturday's (September 21) Week 4 game against Louisiana-Monroe, head coach Steve Sarkisian announced on Thursday (September 19).
Manning, 19, the son of Cooper Manning, nephew of Eli and Peyton Manning and grandson of Archie Manning, took over in the first quarter of last Saturday's (September 14) 56-7 win against UTSA following Heisman frontrunner Quinn Ewers' abdominal strain. The former No. 1 overall prospect threw for 223 yards and four touchdowns on 9 of 12 passing, while also recording 53 total yards, including a 67-yard touchdown, on three rushing attempts during Week 3.
Manning was the consensus No. 1 prospect in the 2023 national recruiting cycle, according to the 247Sports Composite, which averages prospect rankings from the industry's top recruiting websites. Ewers, who opted to forego the 2024 NFL Draft and return for his senior season, was expected to miss Saturday's game and reported to be "week to week," according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.
Ewers entered as a Heisman Trophy favorite and has lived up to lofty expectations, throwing for 691 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions on 58 of 79 passing, which included 185 yards, two touchdowns and one interception on 14 of 16 passing prior to his injury last Saturday.