Dan Orlovsky weighs in on how Texas should utilize Arch Manning in College Football Playoff

With Texas now in the College Football Playoff, the Longhorns may find themselves where they really have to again consider Quinn Ewers vs. Arch Manning.

Dan Orlovsky spoke about Texas’ plans at quarterback while on ‘Get Up’ on Thursday. Simply put, Orlovsky thinks Manning has to be a part of whatever the Longhorns do to win the CFP.

“I do not think that they can win the whole thing unless Arch Manning plays a decent amount at quarterback,” Orlovsky stated.

Orlovsky is specifically discussing Manning being the option for Texas in the red zone considering his efficiency as a passer and runner. However, if Ewers struggles more, he could then just become their QB1.

“That’s where I think he has to play. I really believe Texas, in that situation, has to take Quinn Ewers out of the game and put Arch Manning in the game,” Orlovsky said. “Your question to Harry was if there’s a struggle, a short leash. I don’t even think the leash is the conversation. I think the plan has to be Arch Manning goes into the football game when Texas gets down towards that or in that red zone area. It has to be 11-on-11 football because the passing game? Down there, it hasn’t been as precise as it needs to be. They’re not going to – they might be able to squeak by a Clemson if they play offensively the way that they did in the SEC title game but they’re not going to beat anybody after that game.”

“It’s two things. I truly believe, again, down, like, first drive of the game and they get in the red zone? Arch Manning should go in the game. (If they’re losing 14-7 at halftime), Arch Manning has to go in the game,” said Orlovsky. “If Quinn continues to struggle? At some point, you’ve got to go have the Nick Saban cohones to go make the move.”

Manning has appeared in eight games this fall, including three starts in September, as a redshirt freshman. He was 61-90 (67.8%) when passing for 939 yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions. He has also rushed for 100 yards and four more scores

This comes with Ewers completing 66.2% of his throws for 242.3 yards a game with 25 touchdowns and nine picks. That play has kept Manning in the conversation, especially over their last four games. It has also been what has taken him out of consideration as a top quarterback prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft.

“I don’t think he’s going to get on a heater. I also don’t think, even if he did get on some kind of a heater, he plays his way back into that first-round conversation,” said Orlovsky. “Mel saying second or third round is probably on the high level right now. He hasn’t really played Top-20 quarterback football in college football, let alone top-five.”

Steve Sarkisian has stuck with Ewers through each of the past two seasons with Manning as his backup. Still, in a playoff, must-win scenario like they’ll be in from here on out, Orlovsky thinks quarterback has to stay under consideration for a team that can win it all like Texas.

“There’s two teams in the whole playoff that are boom-or-bust. One is Ohio State and one is Texas,” said Orlovsky. “Both those teams are good enough to go win the whole thing and both those teams have been kind of roller coastery enough, specifically Texas on offense, to lose in the first weekend.”