Arch Manning Threw His First TD Pass for Texas Thanks to Some Quick Thinking

Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Conner Robertson (62) lifts quarterback Arch Manning (16) to celebrate touchdown Saturday's win over Colorado State.
Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Conner Robertson (62) lifts quarterback Arch Manning (16) to celebrate touchdown Saturday's win over Colorado State. / Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK
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The Texas Longhorns kicked off their 2024 season by rolling over Colorado State, 52–0, at home on Saturday. Junior quarterback Quinn Ewers threw for 260 yards and three touchdowns in the win, as the No. 4 team in the country looked dominant from start to finish.

With the score out of reach late in the third quarter, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian let Ewers watch from the bench and gave Arch Manning the chance to see some considerable time under center and he didn't disappoint. Manning hit Johntay Cook for a 40-yard gain on his first play from scrimmage and then threw his first collegiate touchdown after scrambling from the pocket and finding Silas Bolden for a five-yard score.

This was a pretty nifty play by Manning:

Here's the 40-yard toss to Cook:

Manning later ran for a short TD:

The Longhorns will face a much stiffer test next Saturday when they travel to Michigan to face the defending champion Wolverines.


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Andy Nesbitt

ANDY NESBITT

Andy Nesbitt is the assistant managing editor of audience engagement at Sports Illustrated. He works closely with the Breaking and Trending News team to shape SI’s daily coverage across all sports. A 20-year veteran of the sports media business, he has worked for Fox Sports, For the Win, The Boston Globe and NBC Sports, having joined SI in February 2023. Nesbitt is a golf fanatic who desperately wants to see the Super Bowl played on a Saturday night.