It looks like Arch Manning‘s two and a half game run as the starting QB for the Texas Longhorns is coming to an end … for now. Quinn Ewers will reportedly play in Red River against the Oklahoma Sooners.
While we’re not sure how Manning will perform against elite teams like Georgia, Alabama or Tennessee, we got a good taste of how Arch plays. Certainly, against the level of competition he’s faced, Manning has played well.
There’s been a few hiccups here and there, but Manning showed he can handle himself just fine. We’ve also seen that for 2024, a healthy Quinn Ewers is the best option if Texas hopes to go deep in the college football playoff and win a national title.
However, there are some things Manning does better than Ewers. Manning is certainly a better runner. And Manning seems to throw a better deep ball. Arch also seems more willing to throw the deep ball. Manning as three touchdown passes for more than 50-yards in just 10 quarters.
One of those bombs came last Saturday against Mississippi State. Arch hooked up with DeAndre Moore Jr. for a 50-yard TD. It came at a key time. The Bulldogs had just cut the Texas lead to one.
CBS Sports’ John Fisher and Clint Brewster track the best QB throws each week and has declared the Moore TD the best in college football for the week.
“Texas had a one-point lead with just 36 second left until halftime, and was looking at third-and-9 from just inside the 50-yard line. In the shotgun with an empty backfield, Manning faced a blitz, took a hit, and delivered a perfect pass almost 50 yards down the field, leading Moore into the end zone.” — John Fisher
OH MY 😱@ArchManning ➡️ @DeandreMooreJr pic.twitter.com/Suem9u2HkX
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) September 28, 2024
“Texas came out in an empty formation and Mississippi State played Cover 0 across the board so Arch knew he had to get the ball out quick but waited until the last second to get off a perfect fade throw while taking a hit. He was in the zone all afternoon for the Longhorns with dots all over the field like this one.” — Clint Brewster
It’s been great getting a sneak peak of Arch Manning the quarterback over the past two weeks and a glimpse of 2025 and 2026. And if Ewers gets hurt again Manning is more prepared to step in than he was at the beginning of 2024.