Arch Manning is set to start his second successive game for Texas with head coach Steve Sarkisian intent on ensuring Quinn Ewers is fully fit for the Red River Showdown with Oklahoma.
Ewers, the Longhorns' starting quarterback, suffered an abdominal injury in the win over the University of Texas at San Antonio two weeks ago, with prodigiously talented redshirt freshman Manning starting in his absence in last week's emphatic victory over Louisiana-Monroe.
Ewers, projected to be a top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, returned to practice this week, but he is set to watch from the sidelines again when No. 1 ranked Texas hosts Mississippi State at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, Ewers is at "70 percent", and Sarkisian and his staff are unwilling to take any chances ahead of a crucial stretch of the season.
The Longhorns are 37.5-point favorites and are expected to make short work of the 1-4 Bulldogs in Austin, with Manning stepping in and performing brilliantly since Ewers was taken out of the game against UTSA.
But much more significant tests are to follow. Texas has a bye next week before going on the road to take on old rivals Oklahoma on Oct. 12. The following week, No. 2 ranked Georgia heads to Austin for a colossal showdown between two teams with national championship glory on their minds.
It is a two-game stretch that is likely to have a defining role on Texas' season and Sarkisian understandably wants Ewers at full fitness, even if it gives Manning a chance to fuel a bubbling narrative among corners of the fanbase that he should keep the starting job.
Sarkisian told reporters on Thursday that the starter for the Mississippi State game would be announced on Friday, but confirmation of who will be under center was not forthcoming.
"We're going to decide on the quarterback thing tomorrow," Sarkisian said at his pregame press conference. "It won't be a secret. We're not trying to pull the wool over anybody's eyes. Just want to give Quinn every opportunity to see if he's ready to play and what he looks like.
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"He's got to do enough to show me he can play. We've got a game plan. Can he execute the game plan? I hate to pare it down to that, but that's really the truth."
Redshirt junior Ewers had made an impressive start to the season before his injury, throwing for 691 yards and eight touchdowns against two interceptions, with a completion percentage of more than 73 per cent. He led the Longhorns to a statement victory over reigning national champions Michigan at The Big House.
Manning, nephew of NFL greats Peyton and Eli, has been similarly impressive in his opportunities to get on the field, throwing for 576 yards and seven touchdowns, with two interceptions. The 19-year-old has also been impressive on the ground, with two rushing touchdowns including a 67-yard surge to the endzone in the 56-7 rout of UTSA.
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