Texas QB Arch Manning Needed Only 2 Touches For 2 TDs, Including A 67-Yard Run

First of all, let's hope that Quinn Ewers is OK. The Texas Longhorns' typical starting quarterback has started the season hot and has all the makings of a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, injuries have plagued him throughout his time in Austin, and another ailment (strained abdomen) struck him in Saturday's game against UTSA. Ewers didn't look pleased as he went to the medical tent. Another reminder how cruel and unforgiving football can be. https://twitter.com/BobBallouSports/status/1835104705032196277 https://twitter.com/espn/status/1835111763102089435 But part of the nature of the sport is that it's a next man up mentality. It just so happens that the next man up behind Ewers is part of the Manning football dynasty. That is, Arch Manning is the nephew of Peyton and Eli, son of Cooper, who was considered the far superior athlete over Peyton and Eli until injuries derailed his gridiron aspirations. Arch went absolutely Scorched Earth in the Texas spring game, and once he subbed in, he rolled right and threw a strike for a touchdown: https://twitter.com/TexasFootball/status/1835106332883464313 His very next official attempt from scrimmage — run or pass? Arch did this: https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1835109210771607868 That's right. A Manning family member raced 67 yards to the end zone with a sick two-step juke to boot. The longest Longhorns run by a QB since Vince Young. All my football-loving friends have asked me where I stand on Ewers and Arch Manning. There's a major Spencer Rattler/Caleb Williams vibe to their dynamic, except I believe Ewers is definitely a better prospect than Rattler was poised to be had he stuck it out at Oklahoma. Plus, as strong as Arch looked on Saturday, he has a long way to go before he reaches the heights of Caleb Williams, a Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall draft pick. Nevertheless, that ceiling feels like it's in play for Arch. We all thought it'd be another year until Arch took the reins for any meaningful action. Now that Ewers is sidelined with another injury, you have to wonder what might happen if Arch stays hot and has Texas in prime playoff position. Would they turn back to the more experienced Ewers, or roll with Arch? So much will depend on the timeline for Ewers' return. He was ruled out of the UTSA game right away, but coach Steve Sarkisian's halftime interview gave us the official word that it's an abdominal strain. All injury possibilities considered, it could've been a lot worse. I know a lot of us want to see what Arch can be. The only big-picture silver lining to all this for the Longhorns is that Arch should gain additional experience that he wouldn't have a shot at otherwise. Ideally, Arch could start the next two home games against Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State. A bye thereafter gives Ewers almost a month to get back for the Red River Rivalry versus Oklahoma on October 12. In any event, you gotta like Arch's chances to live up to the hype at this point.