Texas Longhorns look solid as Quinn Ewers, Arch Manning romp in 52-0 blowout over Colorado State

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers should celebrate Saturday’s 52-0 victory over Colorado State with a refreshing, ice-cold Dr Pepper.

Make it a 12-pack — 10 for all the Longhorns who caught passes from Ewers and two for backup Arch Manning, who threw his first touchdown pass and ran for his first score at Royal-Memorial Stadium.

Ewers’ new TV commercial with the popular soft drink pokes fun at the frenzy surrounding Manning. But like Ewers told Sherriff Brian Bosworth, the Longhorns didn’t need to call for the backup. The Longhorns’ starter completed 20 of 27 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns as Texas posted its first home-opening shutout since 2004.

The first win is sometimes the hardest but not this time. No. 4 Texas (1-0) cruised and looked every bit like 32.5-point favorites in their debut showing as members of the SEC. The other key number: 51 Longhorns saw action in the first half.

“I don’t think there’s a coach in America that’s going to sit in his press conference today and say, ‘Hey, we’re good enough to go win a championship with the way we played today,’” Sarkisian said afterward.

Arch Manning was great, but so was Quinn Ewers

Manning’s wild Patrick Mahomes-like throw to Silas Bolden will set the internet ablaze. His quarterback sneak from one yard out on fourth-and-goal will give him extra confidence. Manning took the final knee to run out the clock at Royal-Memorial Stadium.

“Between Arch’s little flip and Quinn, hey we’ve got a high-level quarterback room,” Sarkisian said. “I don’t want those guys to be robots.”

Make no mistake, Ewers’ play is what Michigan coaches will be focused on next week.

Ewers spread the ball out evenly, getting the three high-profile transfers into the mix and leaning on running back Jaydon Blue. His only miscue was an unfortunate interception when the ball was tipped from Ewers’ hand as he was trying to throw it away.

Related: Halftime observations from the Texas Longhorns season opener vs. Colorado State Rams

The gameplan was designed to get Blue some confidence early, and he finished with 57 yards on 11 carries. Ewers found Blue coming out of the backfield three times for 37 yards on six targets. But the quarterback got nine others into the action as Texas steadily ran away from the Rams.

Matthew Golden, a Houston transfer, caught touchdown passes of one and 11 yards. Isaiah Bond, the Alabama transfer, caught an easy seven-yard score. Silas Bolden, the Oregon State transfer, had a 35-yard punt return and also caught the 5-yard touchdown from Manning.

Defense kept Colorado State’s Tory Horton in check

The Texas defense didn’t have to do much but keep CSU quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and receiver Tory Horton in check. It was the first time the Rams were shutout since 2013. Horton had just five catches for a paltry 31 yards — a huge win for a Texas secondary that had a rough go last season.

Fowler-Nicolosi completed 10 of 18 passes for 59 yards and had one interception when UT’s Jahdae Barron made a sensational over-the-shoulder grab. The Rams finished with 192 yards on 56 plays and went 5-for-14 on third down.

Barron switched jersey numbers this season to wear Texas ex Michael Huff’s No. 7. Huff was already all over Barron on the sideline for not taking that interception to the house. “He told me that was a terrible job. I should have scored,” Barron said. “So I didn’t do a good enough job.”

Sarkisian said of Barron: “He could have played corner, star (linebacker) or safety. That’s the veteran player, the savvy player in him that allows us to do that.”

The Horns were 7-for-7 on trips inside the Rams’ 20-yard line, and kicker Bert Auburn drilled a 45-yard field goal on the one drive where things stalled out.

It was a big win. But it was merely one win. The Longhorns believe there are more to come.

“Everybody can have one good game. Can you stack another game? Can you stack another game after that?,” senior center Jake Majors said. “After you have a good day, can you go to the next day and have an even better day and just keep stacking.”