Arch Manning replaces Queen Years: Star turns redshirt freshman amid Texas vs. Georgia clash

Texas quarterback Arch Manning entered the game Saturday for the No. 1 Longhorns as they faced a 20-0 deficit against No. 5 Georgia. Manning, a former No. 1 overall pick, started and won two games for the Longhorns this season as starter Quin Yers recovered from an injury.

After Ewers went out with an abdominal injury, Manning stepped in and led the Longhorns to a 2-0 record as the starter. In his SEC debut, Manning completed 26 of 31 passes for 325 yards and two touchdowns and added another score on the ground in a 35–13 win over Mississippi State. On the season, Manning completed 71% of his passes for 901 yards and 12 total touchdowns.

Since returning against Oklahoma, Ewers has struggled to regain his form. Texas had just 15 yards on 22 plays when Ewers was pulled in favor of Manning. He was sacked three times and Texas sat in negative rushing yardage. Against the Sooners, he threw an interception on his first drive and failed to clear 200 yards in the performance.

While Manning doesn't bring the experience of Ewers, he adds a more dynamic downfield passer and quarterback running game. Since 2006 Darrell K. Texas' highly rated offensive line struggled to contain Georgia's dynamic front in the first top-five matchup at Royal Stadium.

Texas has won all of its games this season by at least 19 points, including a road matchup against Michigan and a 31-point victory over Oklahoma. However, the resume has been less impressive as the Sooners and Wolverines lost key games in Week 8. Ewers has historically been strong against top-five opponents, but has had limited time to throw behind the Texas offensive line.