Arch Manning cleared to start as No. 20 Texas faces playoff-critical showdown with No. 9 Vanderbilt
Arch Manning has cleared concussion protocol and will start Texas’ most critical game of the season.
Texas quarterback Arch Manning has been cleared from concussion protocol and is set to start Saturday against No. 9 Vanderbilt, a game that could decide whether the Longhorns stay in the College Football Playoff race.
Sarkisian confirms Manning’s return after week of uncertainty
Manning, who left last week’s overtime win at Mississippi State after his head struck the turf on a 12-yard run, had been listed as questionable through midweek. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian confirmed Thursday that Manning practiced and “made good progress” while continuing to follow medical protocol.
Before exiting against the Bulldogs, Manning completed 29 of 46 passes for 346 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception—his second 300-yard performance this season. Through eight games, the preseason Heisman favorite has completed 61% of his passes for 1,795 yards with 15 touchdowns and six picks.
Backup quarterback Matthew Caldwell, who entered in overtime and threw the game-winning touchdown, would remain next in line. Caldwell, a graduate transfer from Troy, played in ten games last season and brings experience across multiple programs. Sarkisian noted that the team’s confidence in Caldwell “hasn’t changed” after his steady relief effort in Starkville.
“We haven’t changed anything we’ve done,” Sarkisian said. “Our system has been our system. His teammates have the utmost confidence and respect for Matt Caldwell. He’s been thrown into the fire a couple different times and has performed really well.”
Saturday’s matchup at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium is more than a conference test—it’s an elimination game. Texas, 6–2 and ranked No. 20, has little margin for error with No. 5 Georgia and No. 3 Texas A&M looming on the November schedule. No other team in the nation faces three top-10 opponents in the final month of the regular season.
Vanderbilt, 7–1, enters with its own playoff implications. A win would cement the Commodores as a contender in the SEC title race; a loss could leave them dependent on chaos elsewhere.
Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CT Saturday on ABC. For Texas, the return of its young star quarterback comes at the only time that matters—when the season’s future hangs in the balance.
Texas Longhorns News
Final score predictions for Texas vs. Vanderbilt: Can Longhorns take down Diego Pavia with or without Arch Manning?
Vanderbilt actually has a shot to take down the Texas Longhorns in what wouldn’t even be a surprising SEC upset
