Arch Manning starts as QB for No. 1 Texas against Louisiana-Monroe in Week 4

Arch Manning will officially start for No. 1 Texas in Week 4.

Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday that the redshirt freshman would be his starting quarterback. Manning played in Week 3’s 56-7 win over UTSA as a backup to Quinn Ewers. Ewers left the game in the second quarter with a strained abdominal muscle and was considered questionable this week.

Given Saturday’s opponent, it’s no surprise that Texas would play it safe with Ewers. The Longhorns are 44.5-point favorites at home against Louisiana-Monroe.

Manning threw a touchdown pass on his first play and ran for a 67-yard touchdown on his third snap after substituting for Ewers. He finished the game with five total touchdowns – four passing, one running – and was barely used in the fourth quarter because Texas had such a large lead.

Manning’s notoriety and performance sent casual bettors into a frenzy. After Saturday’s game, he’s somehow the No. 7 favorite for the Heisman Trophy at BetMGM, even though Sarkisian has made it clear that Ewers is still the team’s best quarterback. Ewers was the favorite for the Heisman Trophy entering Week 3 after the Longhorns beat Michigan in Week 2.

The ULM game is Texas’ final game before SEC play begins for the Longhorns. Ewers returned to Austin for one more season in 2024 after Texas reached the College Football Playoff for the first time in 2023 following a Big 12 title. Manning also opted to stay in Austin in 2024 as he entered the season as Texas’ No. 2 QB. Manning spent much of his first season at Texas as the team’s third QB behind Ewers and Maalik Murphy. Murphy, now at Duke, started two games for Ewers in 2023 and entered the transfer portal before the CFP.