Arch Manning’s debut: Jaydon Blue and the Longhorns overpower the Warhawks in the quarterback’s first college game.
One of the most highly anticipated quarterback prospects in recent years made his collegiate starting debut on Saturday night.
Texas QB Arch Manning, the consensus No. 1 player in the 2023 recruiting class, stepped in as QB1 for the Longhorns against UL Monroe after Quinn Ewers, who had been impressive with 691 yards and eight touchdowns in three games, sustained an abdomen injury last week.
In the spotlight, Manning threw for 258 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions in Texas’ 51-3 victory over the Warhawks. The Longhorns’ defense, which created two turnovers and a safety, along with RB Jaydon Blue, who scored four total touchdowns, dominated the game.
Already a frontrunner for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the buzz surrounding Manning continues to grow. In Week 3, he recorded 223 passing yards and five total touchdowns after taking over for Ewers. Although he showed some signs of inexperience on Saturday, particularly with his two interceptions, Manning’s arm strength, composure, and confidence resembled that of a seasoned veteran.
As the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning and the grandson of Archie Manning, Arch is continuing his family’s legacy of elite quarterback play. His father, Cooper Manning, was committed to Ole Miss before injuries cut his high school football career short.
Quarterbacking clearly runs in the Manning family, and Arch is poised to carry on that tradition. His starting debut offered him another opportunity to showcase his skills to the college football world before Ewers is expected to return as Texas’ starting quarterback.
The Sporting News provided live updates and highlights from Arch Manning’s debut for the Longhorns against Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday. Here’s a look at the action you may have missed.
