5 Things We Learned From Arch Manning’s First Career Start at Texas

Texas is in Good Hands Moving Forward

After Quinn Ewers leaves Texas to enter the draft, the Longhorns will move to the Arch Manning era. Although Ewers has been a key to the program returning to the top, they have the potential to be even better with the 2023 five-star prospect under center moving forward.

Texas Longhorns 2024 Futures Odds at FanDuel

Win National Championship: +480

Make CFB Playoff: -700

Win SEC Championship Game: +260

Quinn Ewers Win Heisman: +1400

Arch Manning Win Heisman: +5500

Manning Still Needs to Develop

Arch Manning committed to Texas as one of the most highly-touted quarterback prospects in recent years. Many weren’t fond of the idea that the gunslinger has to sit behind Quinn Ewers before becoming the team’s starting quarterback, but after Saturday, Manning showed there’s still room for improvement. It takes live game reps for the five-star prospect to develop, but he’s far from a finished product.

The QB Has Elite Arm Talent

Arch Manning showcased his arm strength on multiple throws last week against UL Monroe. Not only did he fit the ball into tight windows, but he aired it out on numerous occasions. With his strong arm and ability to use his legs, the ceiling may be even higher than originally thought.

Arch Forced a Handful of Passes

While there was a lot of good during Arch Manning’s first start, there were also a handful of throws the quarterback likely wants back. A pair of interceptions contributed to Manning’s 71.3 QBR on Saturday. The freshman shows his ability to read a defense at a high level, but he also shows lapses where he thinks he can fit a ball into a nearly impossible window.

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Steve Sarkisian Has Confidence in Both QBs

Entering this matchup, it was going to be interesting to see if head coach Steve Sarkisian would alter the game plan for Arch Manning’s first start. However, the Longhorns stayed plenty aggressive on offense and allowed the young quarterback to play freely. It's a sign of what’s to come in the future, but it’s also a sign that the head coach has confidence in both QBs in the quarterback room.

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Texas is in Good Hands Moving Forward

After Quinn Ewers leaves Texas to enter the draft, the Longhorns will move to the Arch Manning era. Although Ewers has been a key to the program returning to the top, they have the potential to be even better with the 2023 five-star prospect under center moving forward.

Texas Longhorns 2024 Futures Odds at FanDuel

Win National Championship: +480

Make CFB Playoff: -700

Win SEC Championship Game: +260

Quinn Ewers Win Heisman: +1400

Arch Manning Win Heisman: +5500