How Arch Manning could factor into Texas' gameplan against BYU, rest of season

Steve Sarkisian said if Texas had to play BYU on Monday, Maalik Murphy would have been the starting quarterback. Murphy has been the backup all season and entered Saturday’s win against Houston when Quinn Ewers went down with his injury. But Sarkisian did admit there was still a whole week of practice in front of them, leaving the door open for Arch Manning.

“We’ll go through the week, and Arch and Maalik will both get a ton of reps,” Sarkisian said during his Monday press conference. “If the game was being played today, Maalik would start the game. Arch will be ready to go.”

Murphy completed just one of his two passes vs. Houston, connecting with Jordan Whittington for seven yards on the go-ahead and eventual game-winning drive. Texas mainly resorted to handing the ball off to Jonathon Brooks and CJ Baxter when Ewers went down.

With a whole week to prepare, Sarkisian should have confidence in both Murphy and Manning. But if you ask Bobby Burton of On3’s Inside Texas, he believes Manning has really begun to emerge throughout the season. Murphy may get the start against BYU but Manning’s name will be called at one point or another.

“Three weeks ago, Sark, out of the middle of nowhere, said ‘Oh by the way, Arch Manning had his best week of practice ever.’ That was a little nod that this guy might be getting ready,” Burton said during Tuesday’s episode of Andy Staples On3. “Behind the scenes, he’s been taking reps with the ones and twos this entire season — not just Maalik Murphy.

“I have a strong sense we’re going to see Arch Manning at some point during BYU and maybe for the rest of the season depending on Quinn Ewers and his injury.”

Manning played high school football at New Orleans (LA) Isidore Newman, where he was a Five-Star Plus+ prospect. He was the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

One of the most covered recruits in recent times, we might be on the precipice of Manning getting competitive snaps as a true freshman. And it comes during an unprecedented time for Texas, at least since the end of the Mack Brown era.

“The season kind of hangs in the balance. Texas is 6-1,” Burton said. “This is high cotton for Texas in the last decade, where they have a real chance at a Big 12 title, potential rematch with the Sooners.”

Ewers was listed as “week-to-week” by Sarkisian but he will miss multiple games. BYU will be the first test Texas faces, while everyone has Nov. 4 against Kansas State in Austin circled.

Getting to Arlington and potentially getting another shot at Oklahoma was the goal the moment the clock hit zero in Dallas. Expectations are unlikely to change, even with Ewers hurt. Manning could have a massive opportunity ahead of him.