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Texas quarterback Arch Manning thought his first start for the Longhorns was “probably a C-plus” as his team coasted to a 51-3 victory over Louisiana-Monroe.
“Having so many playmakers around you, it definitely brings up the comfort level for me,” he told reporters after the game. “We got a bunch of different receivers catch balls tonight. Just getting them in space and having them make plays is huge.”
Filling in for an injured Quinn Ewers, the redshirt freshman went 15-of-29 for 258 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
“To think he was going to come out and play a perfect game, I don’t think anybody in here thought that,” head coach Steve Sarkisian said. “I thought he was going to prepare really well, work really hard, do everything he could to play good football. He was going to have some lessons learned, and I think that’s what tonight was about.”
If he were being honest, Sarkisian might be somewhat thankful Manning had some bright spots while making some mistakes. At least for now, Texas avoids a quarterback controversy that would serve as an unwanted distraction amid the team’s quest to make the College Football Playoff.
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“I think if Arch Manning really performs well these next two games, I think Steve Sarkisian is going to have a big decision to make.”@DHx34 thinks Arch Manning has an opportunity to earn the starting role. 👀 pic.twitter.com/1fboD0nWi1
Few will have come away from Saturday night thinking Manning gives the Longhorns a better shot in the short term than Ewers, and that will make it easier for Ewers to resume QB1 duties when he’s healthy again.
Granted, the conversation might change if Manning is still running the offense and torches the Mississippi State defense in Week 5 ahead of a tough two-game stretch against Oklahoma and Georgia.