The defining moment for the Texas Longhorns was when Arch Manning took his first-hand introduction with the ball, especially after head coach Steve Sarkisian strangely benched the starting quarterback, Quinn Ewers, during the middle of their much-hyped showdown with the No. 5-ranked Georgia Bulldogs. Fans were stunned by the move but also represented the debut of the freshman sensation Arch Manning, a player Texas had been waiting on tapp for. Manning is a media story with the high-concept pedigree of being the nephew of NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning, an entrance into the game so expected.
Texas Fighting for Life in the Playoff Race
Texas, fighting for life in the College Football Playoff race, managed little on either side of the ball in the first half. Quinn Ewers, Texas’s quarterback who played every snap last season, could do nothing against Georgia’s stiff defense. It really left one wondering if Ewers was the man for the job, and Sarkisian must have gotten frustrated, knowing the game continues to grind its gears with no apparent end in sight for either of them.
Ewers’ Inconsistent Performance
For whatever reason, though, there’s been a spark through his strong arm and playmaking ability here throughout the season in flashes of brilliance, but also inconsistency. This inconsistency-and now the game is of immense magnitude-placed Sarkisian in a hard-spaced position. The lack of protection from the offensive line contributed to Ewers’ woes as he was hurried constantly and lacked much of an opportunity to contribute.
Sarkisian’s Bold Move
A deflating game for USC became one-sided also in the second half when Sarkisian benched the inefficient Ewers and handed the ball over to Arch Manning, the true freshman. It was a dangerous call Manning was getting his first extensive playing time as a true freshman, and Sarkisian had not wanted him to play that extensively in a game its first season under his direction. However, USC had its only chance to regain that momentum, and now it was Sarkisian’s turn to let go of the so-called touted redshirt freshman.
Manning Brings Excitement to the Field
Arch Manning brought the electric excitement into the field, lighting it up for the crowd. Hailed as the future of Texas football for a considerable amount of time, entry came with much expectation. While big shoes indeed awaited Manning in replacing Ewers-the underperforming-struggling quarterback-for the crucial game, the young quarterback did not refuse the moment. He brought confidence beyond his years, and the calm over the offense was immediate.
Manning’s First Series
The first Texas series with Manning at quarterback was marked by furious decision-making and accuracy by Manning. He knew to get the ball quickly to his playmakers and got the offense down the field with short, efficient throws. In the first series, the crowd was cheering as Manning took the field and completed his first pass of the night, a crisp throw to wide receiver Xavier Worthy, quieted during Ewers’ time under center. With Manning under center, Texas began to build some momentum, and for the first time in the game, the Longhorns actually looked competitive against Georgia’s vaunted defense.
A Promising but Imperfect Debut
Though Manning’s first start wasn’t perfect, it was just what the offense needed for Texas. He was pretty perceptive of the defense and had an uncanny ability to make decisions at breakneck speed. Though he never guided Texas to a comeback victory, his performance did a reasonable job in placing the face of what the future has in store for the Longhorns. Manning did throw some long passes and plunged Texas into its first touchdown of the second half but that proved to be far from enough to overcome the deficit it was facing. However, his game was quite promising and really left the fans hoping for what he can do well for them in the near future.
Sarkisian’s Critical Decision
Sarkisian is going to make a big deal, moving Ewers to the bench and replacing him with Manning. For Ewers, though he was at an extremely high pedestal entering the season following a good 2023 season, now is uncertain where he stands and particularly whether he is the starter. Sarkisian comes from a pedigree of having mentored quarterbacks. He will be squeezed within the next weeks into making a determination on whether it would be proper to stick with Manning as the man or fall back to Ewers.
Quarterback Position Speculation
Indeed, even before the season, Texas’ quarterback position was a topic of much discussion. Manning showed up on campus and brought an infusion of excitement around the team. Ewers had seemingly built himself a starting chance, but the silhouette of Manning loomed large over everything. Time and time again, many people asked when he would finally be given the chance to run the game. By benching Ewers in a game as big as this, it shows Sarkisian and his staff are deciding if the long-term commitment being made at the position by him is one that should be continued.
The Texas Quarterback Battle
The quarterback battle for Texas may conclude how the rest of the season goes for them because Sarkisian said post-game his choice to play Manning was not a suggestion if it would be permanent; he did it to try to get the offense going again. He has since rekindled his faith in Ewers, boasting over the talent of a real leader at the quarterback position and effusive plaudits from his coach on the contributions of his QB.
Manning’s Impact on Texas’ Future
Whatever the case may be, one thing’s for sure. Manning has opened the door for Texas to question who, at this time, should represent the program at the most important position on the field.
The Stakes for Texas
Texas came into this game with high hopes to get past Georgia. What it left with was a loss that, under the circumstances, looks to be pretty close to a fairly minor loss. But with College Football Playoff hopes now at risk, it is how they rebound down the stretch that will be on the minds of Longhorns. Whether that rebound even features Arch Manning as the full-time starter is up for grabs, but there’s little denying the excitement surrounding his future. Manning’s poised first game, though a loss, marked the dawning of the new Texas football era: TX fans will be holding their breath as it will be interesting to see Sarkisian manages that situation going forward.
The Decision Going Forward
Changing the starter from here on out may play into the balance of the rest of the season and very much going forward. If indeed Manning is going to be the starter then, that would all go a long way in dramatically changing the hue and cast of Texas’s strategy offensively. With Manning’s ability to extend plays with his legs and paired with football IQ, the Sarkisian system gains a new dimension that could make Texas a much more versatile and unpredictable offense. If Sarkisian returns to Ewers, that likely will be with a short leash, knowing Manning is waiting in the wings for the opportunity to step in at any time.
Texas’ Championship Aspirations
Whoever starts the year at quarterback, Sarkisian’s objective with Texas and its football operation has never wavered: be among your best and into the College Football Playoff. It will be a daunting task, given there simply is nowhere to hide against likely already-tournament-bound conference foes, so Sarkisian needs to get it right at quarterback for the Longhorns if they are going to continue to keep themselves in contention for this title. The Ewers-Manning debate is far from settled, and the one thing that is clear-Texas is deep at quarterback, and how Sarkisian decides to navigate that will define the team’s season.