AUSTIN, Texas — Arch Manning threw for 258 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in his first profession begin at Texas, main a 51-3 win over UL Monroe instead of injured starter Quinn Ewers to push the No. 1 Longhorns to 4-0.
After throwing an interception on his first possession, Manning settled in, and Texas scored touchdowns on six of his 10 drives for a 44-3 lead when he left the sport early within the fourth quarter. The redshirt freshman competed 15 of 29 cross makes an attempt.
Manning mentioned there have been a number of throws he would really like again, beginning together with his first interception, a second-down throw underneath stress that ULM defensive again Carl Fauntroy snagged three minutes into the sport.
Requested how he would grade his efficiency, Manning mentioned, “Most likely a C-plus, however a win’s a win.”
“To assume he was going to return out and play an ideal recreation, I do not assume anyone in right here thought that,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian mentioned. “I believed he was going to arrange very well, work actually exhausting, do the whole lot he may to play good soccer. He was going to have some classes realized, and I feel that is what tonight was about.”
Within the Longhorns’ first recreation because the No. 1-ranked group within the Related Press High 25 since 2008, Manning obtained loads of assist. Operating again Jaydon Blue rushed for 124 yards and scored 4 complete touchdowns, and Texas’ protection held Common Booty and the Warhawks (2-1) to 111 complete yards on 2.2 yards per play.
Sarkisian mentioned the sport plan known as for Manning to be aggressive in taking deep pictures in opposition to ULM’s protection, and the previous five-star recruit had some success with eight passes of 15 or extra yards, together with a 56-yard completion to Isaiah Bond and a 46-yarder to Matthew Golden. Manning linked with 11 receivers.
“Having so many playmakers round you, it undoubtedly brings up the consolation degree for me,” Manning mentioned. “We bought a bunch of various receivers catch balls tonight. Simply getting them in house and having them make performs is large.”
Ewers exited Texas’ 56-7 win over UTSA final week after struggling an indirect pressure. His standing is taken into account day-to-day, and he may return for the Longhorns’ SEC debut in opposition to Mississippi State subsequent week. Manning shared SEC Freshman of the Week honors after producing 276 complete yards and 5 touchdowns in opposition to UTSA in Ewers’ absence.
After their first SEC recreation, the Longhorns have an idle week adopted by showdowns with No. 15 Oklahoma and No. 2 Georgia in consecutive weeks.
A Texas group with nationwide championship ambitions has performed as much as these expectations by way of 4 video games, outscoring its opponents 190-22 and flexing its muscle groups in its hardest take a look at with a 31-12 highway win in opposition to then-No. 10 Michigan. With the Longhorns successful 16 of their previous 18 video games, Sarkisian mentioned he’s assured he has a group with expertise, depth and maturity that is constructed to contend within the SEC.
“I am happy with the place we’re at, but it surely’s like the whole lot I simply instructed the group: The mission is way from over,” Sarkisian mentioned. “We have got lots of work to do and lots of nice video games forward of us.”