Will Arch Manning Play? Texas Football Reserve Set for Michigan Game

Texas football has perhaps the most famous backup quarterback in the country: freshman Arch Manning.

Manning, a former five-star recruit and cousin of Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning, has been waiting in the wings for the Longhorns behind Quinn Ewers, who is in his third season as the starter. However, the No. 1-ranked recruit in the 2023 recruiting class did get to showcase his talents in Week 1.

REQUIRED READING: Texas Football: Arch Manning Throws First Collegiate TD Against Colorado State

Manning completed 5 of 6 passes for 95 yards with a touchdown in Texas’ season opener against Colorado State, and added a rushing touchdown. Both touchdowns were the first of his career, as Manning spent most of the 2023 season as a third-string quarterback,

Now that Manning will be the primary backup quarterback in 2024, he should see much more action this season.

Will Manning play this week? Here’s a look at his chances of seeing the field:

Will Arch Manning play?

Unless Ewers suffers an unexpected injury or is sidelined, Manning likely will not play in Texas’ game against Michigan on Saturday.

Manning, despite his obvious talent, is still a backup option for the Longhorns, as Ewers is a potential NFL first-round pick in 2025. There’s a chance Texas could have special packages with Manning on the field, but that’s unlikely.

Manning should be a solid option if Ewers suffers a nasty injury. In Week 1, he completed 5 of 6 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown, along with another rushing score, against Colorado State.

Arch Manning Stats

2023: 2 of 5 passes (40%) for 30 yards; three carries for seven yards
2024: 5 of 6 passes (83.3%) for 95 yards with a touchdown; three rushes for zero yards with a touchdown