How Arch Manning played in first career start for Texas Longhorns: Stats, highlights from two-TD, two-INT game

Live updates, highlights and analysis as the legacy QB makes his first career start for the Longhorns on Saturday

Texas quarterback Arch Manning put together a solid performance in his first career start, a 51-3 win over ULM at Darrell K. Royal Memorial Stadium. Manning overcame an early interception to post a few major highlights in the win. 

After a turnover on his first drive, Manning immediately went back down the field with a 58-yard connection to wide receiver Isaiah Bond. In other plays, Manning found Blue for a three-yard touchdown and hit freshman receiver Ryan Wingo for a 17-yard breaking route in the end zone for a touchdown. He also connected with Matthew Golden for a 46-yard gain and Wingo for another 25-yarder. 

However, Manning did cool down in the second half. At one point, Manning whiffed on six straight passes, including an interception off the hands of Blue. His best sequence was likely the period right after his initial interception, but he finished the game completing 15-of-29 passes, a 52% completion, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. 

Manning was comfortable going down the field and threw some passes into tight windows. Of course, Steve Sarkisian's offense helps, but Manning, who ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2023, looks the part of a future star. 

Texas had little trouble dispatching ULM in a dominant victory. Blue rushed for three touchdowns in the win while Bond led the Longhorns with 75 yards receiving. Eleven different players caught a pass for Texas. 

[Sep 21, 2024 at 10:55 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Arch's day is over

Manning's first career start had some ups and downs, but he showed many of the traits that made him such a coveted prospect coming out of high school. He completed 15-of-29 passes for 258 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in his first career win. The second interception was on an errant bounce, but Manning will have to clean things up heading forward. The good news is that Manning's deep ball is one of the more accurate in college football already based on what we've seen so far. 

Backup quarterback Trey Owens will take the field in his place. 

[Sep 21, 2024 at 10:52 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Manning leads TD drive to close

4Q: Texas 44, ULM 3

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian opted to let Arch Manning put together one more drive with his arm and the freshman put together a solid sequence. Manning completed 4-of-5 passes for 44 yards, including a 16-yard dart to Silas Bolden to get Texas into the end zone. Jaydon Blue converted another touchdown, his third rushing score as the Longhorns took an even bigger lead. 

Manning has been a little shaky in the second half, but ending his day with a strong drive leaves Longhorns fans with a good feeling in their mouth leaving his first start. 

[Sep 21, 2024 at 10:39 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Longhorns force safety

3Q: Texas 37, ULM 3

Texas has bled clock with ease and the defense is eating against ULM's overmatched front. Late in the third quarter, Texas forced a safety against the Warhawks that earned them the ball back offensively at midfield with another chance to score. 

[Sep 21, 2024 at 10:12 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Texas leaning on run

The Longhorns quickly ran a six-play, 66-yard drive to start the second half with a touchdown, but Manning wasn't very involved as Texas ran the ball. Manning did draw a roughing the passer penalty to keep the ball moving, but it was Jaydon Blue and Jerrick Gibson combining for the lion's share of production. Don't be surprised if Steve Sarkisian chooses to keep the ball out of Manning's hands for much of the rest of the night. 

[Sep 21, 2024 at 9:45 pm ET · Trey Scott]

My first-half thoughts on Manning are mixed. Some good, some bad. I think he looks less comfortable than he did a week ago in relief, which makes sense given the weight of his first start and the media attention must have been a heavy burden all week. Of his two interceptions, one was a terrible decision and the other was a bad pass that flew off a receiver's hands. Worth noting Quinn Ewers, in his 25 career starts, has thrown two interceptions or more just twice.

That's the bad. The good is Manning is easily the most on-target deep-ball thrower I've seen for Texas since Colt McCoy in the 2000s, and I'm sure Manning's arm already is or will eventually be stronger than McCoy's. He's fearless -- which is good and bad -- while Ewers has skewed more conservative over the course of his career. When Ewers was a first-year starter in 2022, he and Sarkisian drove Texas fans crazy with futile deep shots, over and over and over again. Those are less frequent now, and to be clear some of Ewers' career highlights were deep passes (including two beauties at Alabama last year) and Ewers has been pickier about his shots. 

Manning is playing tonight like he's here for a good time, not for a long time. That's the case in 2024 as Ewers will either return next week against Mississippi State or in a few weeks against Oklahoma after a bye. And it's a lot of fun! 

[Sep 21, 2024 at 9:39 pm ET · Trey Scott]

A second Arch INT before half

Halftime: Texas 28, ULM 3

Manning definitely cooled down while Texas' offense was off the field so long. A bevy of overthrows after getting the ball back and on third down, Manning's pass was way too hot for his intended receiver. It ricocheted off the target's hands and landed in the arms of a ULM defender for Manning's second interception of the half.

A costlier play probably came on second down, when Manning overthrew RB Jaydon Blue on a wheel route. An on-target pass would have been an easy touchdown for Blue. 

ULM missed a FG as the half ended. 

[Sep 21, 2024 at 9:19 pm ET · Trey Scott]

The Warhawks are putting together a long drive with several nice conversions and are on the doorstep of scoring their first points of the day. Manning and Texas should be getting the ball back at some point with a minute and change left in the second half 

[Sep 21, 2024 at 9:12 pm ET · Trey Scott]

Colt McCoy is catching a game at DKR tonight for the first time since his playing career ended in 2009. Rather surprising, but he just recently retired from the NFL and must never have had a bye week that matched up. The ESPN crew interviewed the Texas legend on the sidelines about Arch and the QB situation.

"I'm a big fan of both Quinn and Arch," McCoy said. "They're very talented and operate well under Sark's system. To get Arch a game like this early in the season is beneficial for the entire team. This is a long season with a 12-team playoff." 

[Sep 21, 2024 at 9:08 pm ET · Trey Scott]

Texas scores again ... after another Arch bomb

2Q: Texas 28, ULM 0

The Longhorns capped a 12-play, 87-yard scoring drive that was set up by a 47-yard throw from Manning to Matthew Golden, which came shortly after another long completion from Manning (to Silas Bolden) was overturned. The touchdown scorer was running back Jaydon Blue for a two-yarder. Texas would love to get Blue going (he already has 15 carries for 66 yards) but the night is clearly belonging to Manning and his fearless downfield mindset. 

[Sep 21, 2024 at 9:03 pm ET · Trey Scott]

I'll be fascinated to see the PFF and Tru Media numbers after tonight. Manning has thrown more deep bombs in one half tonight than I can remember Ewers doing all season thus far. We'll see if that is correct. 

[Sep 21, 2024 at 8:49 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Manning keeps dealing

End 1Q: Texas 21, ULM 0

Arch's success since the interception has just continued to roll along. Wide receiver Ryan Wingo made things easy for Manning on his second touchdown of the day, but the two freshmen outdueled the WarHawks defense to pull away for another 18-yard score. 

Manning's first quarter line was off the charts: 8-of-12 for 138 yards, two touchdowns and an interception as the Longhorns take a three-score lead into the second quarter. 

[Sep 21, 2024 at 8:33 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

D creates another opportunity

1Q: Texas 14, ULM 0

Manning didn't have to wait long for another opportunity after leading his first touchdown drive. ULM quarterback General Booty threw an interception to Anthony Hill, who returned nearly for a touchdown. The score was wiped out by an illegal block, so Manning got to help get Texas into the end zone with a rollout pass to running back Jaydon Blue. Manning has been perfectly on point since his opening drive mistake. 

[Sep 21, 2024 at 8:23 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Arch bounces back

1Q: Texas 7, ULM 0

Texas quarterback Arch Manning threw an interception on his first drive, but the freshman didn't let a little early adversity get to him. Instead, on his very next pass attempt, Manning connected with receiver Isaiah Bond for a big-time thrown over a ULM safety's head for 56 yards. The pass was a perfect dot where only Bond could get to it and helped set up a touchdown run by Jaydon Blue four plays later. 

[Sep 21, 2024 at 8:22 pm ET · Trey Scott]

Midway 1Q: Texas 7, ULM 0

Texas RB Jaydon Blue gets his second touchdown of the season as Texas pushes the pile for a short gain. Manning completed one pass on the drive, but it was a beauty of a 56-yarder and a great response after his first career interception. 

[Sep 21, 2024 at 8:20 pm ET · Trey Scott]

No fear despite his first career interception: After two consecutive running plays, Manning play-fakes on third-and-one and throws a beautiful, deep rainbow to Isaiah Bond for a 57-yard completion. 

One edge Manning has over Ewers is the deep ball (the job will still be Ewers' when he returns). 

[Sep 21, 2024 at 8:19 pm ET · Trey Scott]

Texas is getting the ball back after forcing a three-and-out. Expect a steady diet of the running game. 

[Sep 21, 2024 at 8:08 pm ET · Trey Scott]

Texas got the ball to start the game. Here's how Manning's first drive went

1st and 10: Incompletion (too high on a rollout)

2nd and 10: Run by Jaydon Blue for 7 yards

3rd and 3: Complete to DeAndre Moore Jr. for a first down on a slant

1st and 20 (after a holding penalty): Jaydon Blue run for 6 yards

2nd and 14: Beautiful corner strike to Silas Bolden for 16 yards

1st and 10: Run by Blue for 6 yards

2nd and 4: INTERCEPTION!

Manning shakes a sack and makes an ill-advised throw down the field into triple-coverage for his first interception. 

[Sep 21, 2024 at 7:54 pm ET · Trey Scott]

Pregame buzz from crew on the ground in Austin

Some good notes from the team at Horns247 in their game tracker, which we recommend checking out:

Jeff Howe says Manning got a nice "pop" of an ovation during pregame introductions

And Eric Henry notes Quinn Ewers, who's out tonight of course, has had a good disposition during warmups: "Just taking a look at Quinn Ewers' pregame and he's been pretty engaged with AJ Milwee and QBs Arch Manning and Trey Owens. Not that you would expect anything differently, but always great to see."

[Sep 21, 2024 at 7:30 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

How good a prospect is Manning?

The 247Sports group of scouting experts came together to evaluate every single quarterback in college football and determine the best future NFL prospects, regardless of draft class. According to them, the Manning hype is real. The panel ranked Manning as the No. 1 quarterback prospect in college football, narrowly beating out Tennessee's Nico Iamaleava and Nebraska's Dylan Raiola. The first 2025 draft-eligible quarterback is Miami's Cameron Ward at No. 4, with Texas starter Quinn Ewers at No. 5. 

Granted, the list is about projection. It doesn't mean that Manning today should start over Ewers when the latter is healthy. However, it does indicate that Manning is a serious player to watch over the next several seasons. 

Arch Manning is the best NFL QB prospect in college football: Here's how we rank the top 20

Clint Brewster

Arch Manning is the best NFL QB prospect in college football: Here's how we rank the top 20

[Sep 21, 2024 at 7:00 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Arch leads QB power rankings

After seeing his first major action in Week 3, Manning took his place atop the QB Power Rankings this week. The College Football QB Power Rankings aren't only about statistics and great performances. They're also about commanding the attention of college football's collective consciousness. They're about inspiring ludicrous takes that don't make any sense but also make a little sense. Today, that puts Manning on top. 

College Football QB Power Rankings: Arch Manning replaces Quinn Ewers, Carson Beck plummets after close call

Tom Fornelli

College Football QB Power Rankings: Arch Manning replaces Quinn Ewers, Carson Beck plummets after close call

[Sep 21, 2024 at 6:30 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Next in line

Manning comes from a legendary family of quarterbacks. His grandfather, Archie, was a College Football Hall of Famer at Ole Miss and starred for the New Orleans Saints, reaching the Pro Bowl twice. Uncle Eli Manning reached four Pro Bowls and won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants. Uncle Peyton Manning was the best of the bunch, becoming a Heisman finalist at Tennessee and winning five MVPs with the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos.

Arch is the son of Cooper Manning, the eldest son of the Manning family. Unlike his brothers, Cooper was a wide receiver who committed to Ole Miss. Unfortunately, his career was cut short by a spinal stenosis diagnosis. Peyton wore Cooper's No. 18 in the NFL to honor him.