There's no QB controversy at Texas, but Arch Manning could be trump card for the Longhorns in 2024

Arch Manning set X ablaze over the weekend, as Texas’ redshirt freshman gunslinger fired bullet after bullet in the Longhorns’ spring game. 

A 75-yard strike on his first throw of the day. Another 75-yard bomb perfectly placed. A couple of well-placed passes that were dropped, including another likely touchdown. 

By the end of the afternoon, Manning was 19 of 25 for 355 yards and three scores.  

AIR IT OUT ARCH MANNING 🎯🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/U2AbjuV8wy

— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) April 20, 2024

Predictably, many took to social media and pronounced that Texas suddenly had a quarterback controversy brewing. Head coach Steve Sarkisian immediately threw cold water on that notion, though, once again declaring that junior Quinn Ewers, who played in just two series Saturday, is the Longhorns’ entrenched QB1.

“I know what Quinn’s about,” Sarkisian said.

“Quinn’s had a great spring. … I wanted Arch to be able to just go play football. He hasn’t really played in a year.”

So case closed. 

Right? Right, and yet, that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything to see here. 

Texas put the rest of the country on notice Saturday — they might have an ace in the hole that no other team does in 2024.

Manning’s final stat line was impressive, but it’s a scripted spring game. The more important takeaways were how the former No. 1 overall prospect looked. 

Confident. Accurate. Bigger. 

Manning, he of the famed football IQ family, displayed strong-decision making, plenty of arm strength and accuracy akin to his uncle. This wasn’t just some 3-star who got his lofty recruiting rankings because of his last name. 

The kid can play. 

In last year’s spring game, Arch Manning looked like a baby deer on skates. On Saturday, he resembled a young buck clawing for an opportunity.

“When he keeps his eyes up and steps up in the pocket, he can deliver those balls down the field, the way we like to play,” Sarkisian said.

“We’re very fortunate at the quarterback position to have a third-year starter to have the backup that we have.”

Yes they are. The Longhorns have a unicorn QB room in the day and age of the transfer portal — a bonafide starter and a former blue-chip recruit patiently waiting in the wings. 

Why Arch Manning could be a trump card for Texas in 2024

Quinn Ewers has started 22 games in the last two seasons for Texas. He led the Longhorns to the Big 12 Championship and a College Football Playoff berth in 2023. But the former No. 1 overall recruit in the 2021 class has also missed five games in two years due to various injuries. 

It’s almost a certainty that Manning will see some important snaps in 2024. 

How many?

Time will tell, but considering Ewers’ health history coupled with the fact that a team like Texas — with legitimate national championship hopes — might play a record 16 or 17 games this fall, having a backup quarterback you’ve developed and trust is a trump card Georgia, Alabama and others don’t have right now. 

That’s how you shrink the margins if you’re the Longhorns. 

Carson Beck might be the best quarterback in the country this year, but are the Bulldogs totally sold that Gunner Stockton or possibly Jaden Rashada could still lead the team to a title? Ty Simpson made strong strides this spring at Alabama, but it would be a leap to suggest that the Tide wouldn’t miss a beat if Jalen Milroe went down for any extended period of time. 

Of the 2024 title contenders, Ohio State has the most intriguing quarterback room because of the Buckeyes’ plethora of options, but exiting the spring, 5-star freshman Julian Sayin didn’t look quite ready to handle the spotlight just yet. Maybe he will by the end of the season.

Only Texas looks to have multiple options of certainty at the team’s most important position. So in a season where depth may matter more than ever? That makes Texas all the more formidable. 

Arch Manning dazzled over the weekend. That won’t worry Ewers, but it should scare the rest of the title contenders this fall.