Prominent college football reporter makes big claim about Arch Manning ahead of Texas' season-opener against Colorado State

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian isn’t giving any hints about whether redshirt freshman quarterback Arch Manning will play in the first half of the season opener against the Colorado State Rams on Saturday.

When asked this week if Manning will see action in the first half, Sarkisian responded "we will find out".

Sarkisian is understandably being coy when it comes to his plans for Manning. (Why give away any info to Colorado State?)

CBS Sports college football reporter Dennis Dodd, however, is convinced that Manning will play against Colorado State -- though he's not so certain it will happen in the second half.

Part of the reason why Dodd is so sure that Manning will play against the Rams is to keep the young quarterback and his family "happy".

"Steve Sarkisian continues to tease an Arch Manning appearance," wrote Dodd ahead of the Longhorns' season-opener. "Asked this week whether Manning will play in the first half against Colorado State, the Longhorns coach said, "We'll find out." Let me translate: Yes, we will see Manning at some point in the game. Sark has to have a plan to keep Manning (and the family) happy as the sophomore QB backs up Quinn Ewers for the second straight year ."

Texas starting quarterback Quinn Ewers is a potential early round target in the 2025 NFL Draft. It seems unlikely that Sarkisian will take him out of the first half against Colorado State just so he can give Manning a few plays (unless it's a total blowout).

While Manning undoubtedly wants to play (as any competitor does in that situation), he understands the scenario he's in right now. And he's fine with waiting his turn.

It would be wise, though, for Sarkisian to get Manning as much action as possible early in the season. But that's only to protect Texas against Ewers potentially missing time (as he has the last couple of season). I don't think Sark will be playing Manning just to keep him "happy".

Like Sark said, we'll all find out the plan on Saturday when Texas takes on Colorado State. Of course, that's assuming everything goes to plan for the Longhorns. College football has a funny way of straying from the script -- especially early in the season.

Related: Former New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees offers strong advice to Arch Manning about how long he should stay at Texas