It’s no surprise why Texas got better since the last time it went to Arkansas, according to Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman said. The Longhorns got themselves a quarterback. Two, actually.

“Everybody knows you've got to have a quarterback, and he's got two of ’em. Maybe three, but I’ve seen two that are extremely good players,” Pittman said.

When the Longhorns went to Fayetteville in 2021, first-year coach Steve Sarkisian was still trying to decide if he liked the mobile Casey Thompson or the pocket-passing Hudson Card. Both played against the Hogs, and while Thompson did better in the backup role, the Horns still lost 40-21.

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Fast forward to today, and Pittman can easily see the Horns are better with quarterbacks Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning.

Pittman said Ewers has “the confidence of (Ole Miss quarterback) Jaxson Dart, you know, that type of confidence. I think he has great belief in his O-line. You can just feel it. You can feel it on the field. And his wideouts are incredible. Running backs used as wideouts on bubble screens.

“I think he has a lot of talent around him, but I think he has a lot, a lot of confidence. Probably has since he was a young man” Pittman added. “And he’s very accurate and got an incredibly strong arm.”

Almost all of Texas’ opposing coaches are asked about Manning. Do you prepare differently depending on who is in the game? Coaches always give similar answers about defending UT’s system, not the specific player. Sarkisian does not really deviate from his normal play-calling based on who is in the game, although Manning does have better scrambling ability. 

ABC commentator reveals Arch Manning’s classy gesture toward Texas QB Quinn Ewers

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers threw five touchdown passes and had a relatively easy day in a blowout win over Florida. Ewers played so well, coach Steve Sarkisian pulled his starter in the third quarter and inserted backup Arch Manning. You remember him, right? Manning finished out the win, and looking to fill airtime, ABC broadcaster […]

Still, Pittman couldn’t believe what he saw on Manning’s film in addition to a throw he made Saturday against Florida. Manning was 3-for-6 for 19 yards in a mop-up role against the Gators. He has not played extensively since Ewers’ return from an abdominal injury against Oklahoma, save for a quick appearance against Georgia.

“With Manning, I saw him make a play running to his left that they would have showed on ‘SportsCenter’ if (Patrick) Mahomes did it,” Pittman said. “The touch on that pass and the accuracy running to his left was incredible.

Few teams have two starting-caliber quarterbacks these days, considering the influences of NIL and the transfer portal. What Sarkisian has been able to keeping Ewers and Manning happy and together has been a major storyline this season. That’s something Pittman admired from afar.

“And (Manning) staying there, I’m sure it says something about his family,” Pittman said. “You know, he’s got a family that certainly has had a lot of success, and so I'm sure they’re helping him with some of his decisions.

“To stay nowadays is a notable achievement or a notable accomplishment for a guy to do that now, especially guy with his type of talent.”