Arch Manning proves he’s the QB of Texas football’s future vs. ULM as Quinn Ewers heals for SEC play
Manning throws 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions as No. 1 Texas registers blowout in final tuneup before SEC opener
In retrospect, ESPN+ was the perfect place for Arch Manning to make his first career start at Texas. Streaming is akin to playing off Broadway, as it were.
It was an uneven performance against Louisiana-Monroe — terrific at times, not bad overall but just enough rough spots to make coach Steve Sarkisian cringe.
For cost-conscious fans, the 51-3 blowout wasn’t worth paying an extra $10.99.
Saturday night proved that Manning will be a terrific starter in 2025, but Quinn Ewers is the quarterback No. 1 Texas needs right now for a national championship run in 2024. Manning threw two touchdowns and had two interceptions in a drama-free win before next week's SEC opener against Mississippi State.
“It was fun, getting my first start, getting first win under my belt,” Manning said. “Obviously there’s a lot to improve on for my part, but it was fun getting the dub.”
Asked to grade himself, Manning said, “Probably a C-plus but a win’s a win.”
The announced crowd was 102,850, the fifth-largest attendance in Royal-Memorial Stadium history. Given the noise for a directional school as the opponent, fans deserve a A-plus. But there were also dirt-cheap tickets available on Stubhub and social media hours before kickoff, too.
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Sarkisian looked miffed during his halftime interview after watching Manning turn it over twice. He offered mixed reviews afterward, too. Manning completed 15 of 29 passes for 258 yards on a night Texas (4-0) ran up 482 yards against an overmatched ULM (2-1).
The Texas defense allowed only 111 total yards, got two turnovers and recorded the first safety of the season. In four games so far, the Longhorns have allowed only two touchdowns.
But all anybody tuned in to see Saturday was Manning.
It’s one thing to come off the bench and light the stadium on fire like Manning did last week against UTSA. Nick Saban even liked what he saw. He accounted for five touchdowns in the blowout win over UTSA. But it’s something different to know you’re going to start in the days leading up to kickoff.
Manning said Ewers was terrific throughout the week helping him prepare. The two are also roommates in the hotel on Friday nights. They legitimately like each other and want each other to succeed.
"He was in all the meetings this week and I just told him the whole time, just let me know if you see anything, any advice," Manning said. "He was giving me advice this morning. It’s been a great relationship."
Manning’s opening drive ended with an interception to ULM’s Carl Fauntroy. Manning was hit on the throw, but the ball was going into triple coverage regardless.
"He’s going to watch this tape and we’re going to see there’s probably 2-4 of these throws that maybe, if he just resets his feet, throws it to the running back, checks it down, and the running back gets you 15-20 yards, that he’s going to learn the value in that," Sarkisian said. "Then all of a sudden, that goes from instead of 15-for-29, that number goes to 20-for-29 and that completion percentage goes up.
"But he also made a couple big-time throws tonight that that were really effective," the coach added. "He did some nice things, changing protections up front. So all in all, the guy's played, you know, a couple games now and for the first time ever playing, he's playing good football for us. But his best days are definitely still ahead."
On the next drive, Manning leaned on running back Jaydon Blue, who missed last week with an injury. On third-and-1, Manning reared back and unleashed a bomb to Isaiah Bond, who made the 56-yard catch. Blue then ran for five, four, two and one yard to punch in UT’s first score.
Manning found Blue from three yards out on the next possession, giving Texas a 14-0 lead. Then, he hit Ryan Wingo for 25 yards and went back to Wingo again for a 17-yard score.
Arch Manning starts strong, throws 2 TDs early in first career start for Texas football vs. ULM
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian had a simple message for redshirt freshman Arch Manning making his first career start Saturday night against Louisiana-Monroe. “Go have fun,” Sarkisian said during his pre-game radio interview. Looks like he sure did. Manning had a strong start, hitting Isaiah Bond for a 56-yard gainer to get things rolling and then […]
Manning had completions of 46 and 19 yards in the second quarter and another 11-yard pass to Ryan Niblett. Blue ran it in from two yards out, and Texas was up 28-0. For all intents and purposes, the game was over.
Sarkisian will drill down on Manning’s miscues. In the first half, Manning missed Blue running wide open down the west sideline for what would have been an easy touchdown throw. In the second half, he bobbled a shotgun snap, picked it up in traffic, took a huge hit and still uncorked a long throw to Isaiah Bond. The pass fell incomplete but there was no panic.
Manning was shown on the sideline looking at iPad replays, something allowed for the first time this season. Make a mistake? Hustle to the sideline, look at it and correct it on the spot. For a young quarterback, Saturday night was a tremendous laboratory to learn and grow.
