Arch Manning sent Texas Longhorns fans wild within minutes of entering the field on Saturday night, throwing a touchdown on his first play – and then rushing 67 yards for another just minutes later.
The star quarterback, and nephew of NFL legends Eli and Peyton, came into the game at the start of the second quarter after Heisman favorite Quinn Ewers left the field injured.
It didn’t take long for the fans’ frustrations to be quelled, though, as Heisman talk instead turned to Manning as he balled out against UTSA.
With his first play of the game, at 2nd & 9 on UTSA’s 20-yard line, Manning threw a touchdown pass to DeAndre Moore Jr to finish off the Longhorns’ drive.
Mere seconds later, Manning got the ball back deep in Texas territory, before taking off and rushing a career-long 67 yards for another touchdown.
Arch Manning scored a touchdown with his first play of the game for Texas on Saturday night
Seconds later, he took off for the longest rushing touchdown of his fledgling Texas career
CAN’T TOUCH HIM 😮💨@ArchManning pic.twitter.com/65nR57qIR5
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) September 15, 2024
Fans took to social media to give their thoughts, with one writing: ‘He should be the starter!’
Another added: ‘He is the king’, before one Longhorns fanatic called him a ‘future Heisman winner’.
The current Heisman favorite is his QB teammate Ewers, who looked close to tears as he left the field with his jersey pulled up over his head on Saturday night.
He suffered an apparent lower leg injury and limped off to the locker room after a brief stint in the medical tent.
Going into the game against UTSA, Ewers had thrown for 506 yards and six touchdowns, with one interception.
