AUSTIN — Texas’ first official SEC game — which, in another time, another universe might have been labeled the Back-up Bowl — pit second-string quarterbacks against each other, at least in theory.
Just try telling Mississippi State that it got the top-ranked Longhorns’ second-best quarterback in Arch Manning.
No problem.
“What a luxury,” Steve Sarkisian said, “to have a player of his caliber as a backup quarterback.”
Manning brought every bit of his blue-bloodlines to bear Saturday before 101,388 at Royal-Memorial Stadium in a 35-13 rout, a point difference that would have been more lopsided had a couple of his teammates not been a little careless with the football.
Or if Manning had had a running game he could have leaned on early against the SEC’s worst run defense.
Or if his head coach hadn’t taken three points off the board for an ill-advised shot at fourth-and-three.
Manning, who was 26 of 31 for 324 yards and a pair of touchdowns, overcame all of the calamity above in high style. When not painting rainbows above Earl & Ricky Field, he was running over it like one of the namesakes. Instead of sliding into 6-1, 230-pound Stone Blanton last in the third quarter, he barged into him like a cop through a crack-house door on “Chicago P.D.”
Any second thoughts about that collision, Arch?
“My family’s gonna be mad at me for not sliding,” he said, smiling. “Every time I call my grandfather, he says, ‘Get down or get out of bounds.’ "
For the record, Archie Manning probably scrambled for more yards than his sons and grandson put together, mostly running for his life on bad Saints teams. But it’s different when you see your heirs at risk.
Like on the very next play after the head-on collision, when Arch ran around end for a 26-yard rip that ended with him sideswiped by a safety while diving for the pylon. He made a case that it should have been called a touchdown, and he’ll get no argument from me. But that’s beside the six points. For his own safety and Texas’ future at quarterback, the kid needs to heed his grandfather’s advice.
At least duck.
We’re watching a competitor evolve today. Arch Manning is a gamer and knows Texas needs this six. 🤘 pic.twitter.com/ojd8OYRGd3
— Justin Wells (@justinwells2424) September 28, 2024
If this was, indeed, his last start in relief of Ewers, who sat out his second game in a row with an oblique strain, Manning gave Longhorn fans something to remember. Even argue over.
For that matter, he might have given Ewers something to think about as the latter stood on the sideline under the weight of Jahdae Barron’s bling around his neck.
Until Saturday, Manning’s potential had either flashed against inferior talent or in brief intervals. “Room for growth” was how Sark put it after Manning threw two picks against ULM. How much of an upgrade Mississippi State was is up for debate. There was a reason the Bulldogs went into the game as 38.5-point underdogs, their bleakest outlook in Vegas’ eyes in 45 years. Mississippi State got blown out by Toledo, for crying out loud. For the most part Saturday, Texas played down to the competition.
Managed only 35 yards rushing in the first half. Sloppy, too. Jaydon Blue fumbled twice, the first in the red zone and again at midfield. Eight penalties called on the offense alone, including five holds.
Maybe the biggest sin: Johntay Cook, running wide open down the middle of the field, dropped a picture-perfect pass for what would have been a 62-yard touchdown.
But the mark of a good team, especially one ranked No. 1, is that it can make those kinds of mistakes and still win by 22.
“We’ve got the mindset and the poise and composure to overcome a lot of those things that a lot of teams can’t overcome,” Sark said.
“And I don’t know if in years past we could have overcome what we overcame today.”
Texas has now completed what Sarkisian calls “phase one” of the season with a 5-0 record. Saturday was the first time the Longhorns faced any real adversity. Naturally, Sark called it a good thing, especially going into the bye week and “phase two” of Oklahoma, Georgia and Vanderbilt. He said his players will see “the good, bad and ugly” in films on Monday.
As for Ewers’ availability for Texas-OU, Sarkisian said “hopefully” they could get him back. But, in case you’re wondering, he made clear his priorities.
Move along, folks.
No quarterback controversy here.
“We need Quinn back,” Sark said, “because he’s our quarterback and he’s our leader and I think that affects the entire team.”
Once again, no arguments here. Just the same, if nothing else, the last two-plus games have demonstrated the Manning hype is real.
What does Sark take from that reality?
Best quarterback room in the nation.
“There’s not a lot of teams in the country that have what we have,” he said. “Those guys are both capable of a lot. Both very good players.
“When we get Quinn back, we’re all gonna be happy with it.”
After the best performance of a career that, while early, has all the earmarks of a Manning, Arch agreed with his head coach. This is Quinn’s team, he said. He’ll be ready if they need him. Texas can take some comfort in that when his time comes.
Twitter/X: @KSherringtonDMN
