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Texas’ 56-7 win over UTSA on Saturday was bittersweet for Longhorns fans.
Star quarterback Quinn Ewers suffered a strained abdomen in the second quarter, leaving the Longhorns without their QB1 for the remainder of the game.
The good news for Texas fans is that Ewers’ early exit paved the way for redshirt freshman Arch Manning to get plenty of reps and experience, preparing him to make a start should Ewers miss any more time.
And Manning made the most of his reps, picking up 223 passing yards and four touchdowns through the air on 9-of-12 passing. He also showed off his mobility, rushing for 53 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
While Ewers’ injury was a blow to Texas fans, they were more than happy with the performance Manning put together in the blowout win.
When Manning committed to Texas, fans knew he would be special. He was the No. 1 player in the nation, according to 247Sports Composite, and obviously has good genes with his uncles, Peyton and Eli Manning, being NFL legends.
If his performance on Saturday is any indication of how good he is going to be, the future is bright for Manning.
Ewers’ timeline isn’t clear at this point, but a strained abdomen likely won’t be a season-ending injury. Manning is clearly on his way to being a standout starter for the Longhorns, but it’s hard to imagine he’ll remain in the starting role once Ewers has recovered.
The veteran quarterback led Texas to the College Football Playoffs last year and has already picked up a big win over Michigan this year, and the Longhorns will likely stick with him under center assuming he makes a full recovery in the coming weeks.
Texas will have another manageable game next week as it faces UL Monroe, meaning getting Ewers back on the field isn’t as urgent.