It was pretty much bound to happen eventually. Not even the greatest college football players of all-time can go their entire career without throwing a single interception and today Texas quarterback Arch Manning got his.
Manning got the first start of his career for the Longhorns against Louisiana-Monroe today and despite a solid first few plays, things went wrong on his fourth play of the opening drive. On a 2nd-and-4 play, Manning was pressured hard by the Warhawks and heaved a pass into double coverage, where his ball was picked off by ULM’s Carl Fauntroy.
Arch Manning throws his first career interception on the opening drive of the game. pic.twitter.com/2wXd8q4HcK
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 22, 2024
Fortunately for Manning and the Longhorns, the defense did their job on the ensuing drive, forcing a three-and-out on the Warhawks.
Manning then got the ball back and promptly went to work.
He led the team on three straight touchdown drives and as of writing is 8-of-12 for 137 yards with two touchdown passes – all in the first quarter.
The Longhorns lead 21-0 after one quarter and appear to be on the fast track to another win and a 4-0 start on the season.
With starting quarterback Quinn Ewers not active at all today due to an abdominal injury he suffered last week, Manning seems primed to keep the job until head coach Steve Sarkisian is comfortable throwing Ewers back in.
But if Manning continues to play this well, he’s going to be hard-pressed to justify switching back to a quarterback who may not even be with the team this time next year.
The game is being played on the SEC Network.
Related: College Football Fans React To Arch Manning Getting His First Start