Texas’s Steve Sarkisian Explains Why Arch Manning Didn’t Play vs. Rice

The freshman remained on the bench during the Longhorns’ first game.

In No. 11 Texas’s first game of the year, the Longhorns cruised past Rice 37–10, yet freshman quarterback Arch Manning remained on the bench. After Texas pulled starter Quinn Ewers late in the game, it was Maalik Murphy who relieved him at quarterback.

Coach Steve Sarkisian said he wanted to get Manning in the game, but the timing just didn’t work out.

“Quite frankly I had all intentions of playing Arch in that game,” Sarkisian said, via On3. “I didn’t think that the fourth quarter would go as fast as it did, and then I didn’t want to put him in there for the last minute and a half and use a game on that.”

Texas quarterback Arch Manning did not play in the Longhorns' first game of the season :: Scott Wachter/USA Today network

Sarkisian implied that Texas would like to redshirt Manning, which means that the freshman can only play in a maximum of four games this season. Therefore, the coach would prefer Manning get more experience than just a minute per game in each game he plays this year.

Ewers remains the Longhorns’ starter this year, with Manning and Murphy as backups in case there is an injury. Murphy is a year ahead of Manning, having redshirted all last year, so Sarkisian appears less concerned over having to monitor the games in which Murphy plays.

“Those guys continue to work hard and compete at it,” Sarkisian said. “Hopefully as the season goes on they’ll both get their opportunities to get in there and play.”

Texas heads to Tuscaloosa to play No. 3 Alabama next week, before returning home to play Wyoming the following week.