Arch Manning keeps No. 1 Texas on track and defeats UL Monroe

AUSTIN, Texas – Arch Manning threw for 258 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in his first career start at Texas to lead a 51-3 victory over UL Monroe, filling in for injured starter Quinn Ewers and lifting the No. 1 Longhorns to 4-0.

After throwing an interception on his first possession, Manning got going again and Texas scored touchdowns on six of its 10 drives and led 44-3 when he left the game early in the fourth quarter. The redshirt freshman was successful on 15 of his 29 pass attempts.

Manning said there were several throws he would have liked to have gotten back, starting with his first interception, a throw under pressure on second down caught by ULM defensive back Carl Fauntroy three minutes into the game. When asked how he would rate his performance, Manning said, “Probably a C+, but a win is a win.”

“I don't think anyone here thought he was going to have a perfect game,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said. “I thought he was going to prepare really well, work really hard and do everything he could to play good football. He was going to learn some lessons and I think that's what tonight was about.”

In the Longhorns' first game as the No. 1 team in the Associated Press Top 25 since 2008, Manning received plenty of help. Running back Jaydon Blue rushed for 124 yards and four total touchdowns, and the Texas defense held General Booty and the Warhawks (2-1) to 2.2 yards per play for a total of 111 yards.

Sarkisian said the game plan called for Manning to aggressively make long throws against ULM's defense, and the former five-star recruit had success with eight passes of 15 yards or more, including a 56-yard pass to Isaiah Bond and a 46-yard pass to Matthew Golden. Manning had 11 pass receivers.

“Having so many playmakers around definitely makes me feel better,” he said. “Tonight we have a lot of different receivers catching balls. It's great to just give them space and let them make plays.”

Ewers left Texas' 56-7 victory over UTSA last week after suffering an oblique strain. His status will be assessed on a day-to-day basis, and he could potentially return for the Longhorns' SEC debut against Mississippi State next week. Manning shared SEC Freshman of the Week honors after rushing for 276 yards and five touchdowns against UTSA in Ewers' absence.

After their first SEC conference game at home against Mississippi State, the Longhorns have an off week, followed by showdowns with No. 15 Oklahoma and No. 2 Georgia in back-to-back weeks.

A Texas team with national championship aspirations has lived up to those expectations through four games, outscoring its opponents 190-22 and flexing its muscles in its toughest test with a 31-12 road win over then-No. 10 Michigan. With the Longhorns winning 16 of their last 18 games, Sarkisian is confident he has a team with the talent, depth and maturity to compete in the SEC.

“I'm happy with what we accomplished, but it's like everything I just told the team: The mission is far from over,” Sarkisian said. “We still have a lot of work to do and a lot of great games to play.”