Arch Manning is the starting quarterback at the University of Texas for the foreseeable future. His Heisman Trophy odds skyrocketed into the top-10 after his first legitimate on-field action in relief of Quinn Ewers on Saturday.
One particular touchdown throw from the redshirt freshman’s breakout performance was the cherry on top of a fantastic performance.
Ewers entered the weekend as the betting favorite in the Heisman market at +500. Unfortunately, the fourth-year junior suffered a freak oblique/abdomen injury during the second quarter after starting the game 14-of-16 for 185 yards and two touchdowns. He later returned to the sideline in street clothes.
The Longhorns are in a very interesting spot. Their next two games should not be a challenge and then they will take the week off before the Red River Shootout Showdown.
- Sept. 21 — vs. Louisiana Monroe
- Sept. 28 — vs. Mississippi State
- Oct. 5 — BYE WEEK
- Oct. 12 — at Oklahoma (neutral site)
It seems unlikely that Ewers will be able to return to practice on Monday, in which case head coach Steve Sarkisian may choose to let him rest until the rivalry game at the Cotton Bowl. There is no need to rush him back out there for the Warhawks or the Bulldogs. Especially when his highly-touted backup is balling.
Manning completed nine of his 12 pass attempts for 185 yards and four touchdowns against UTSA. He also ran for 53 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
His very first throw after entering the game went for six!
Just look at the ball placement on this angle of his back-shoulder touchdown:
YOU TOO COLD 1! @_jayythegreat_ pic.twitter.com/65qszWGbna
— Reagan Huggins (@ReaganHuggins12) September 15, 2024
College football is a crazy sport.
Ewers was the Heisman favorite on Saturday morning. He was talked about as a candidate for the transfer portal by Saturday afternoon because of Manning’s big day. Sarkisian may choose to ride the hot hand from here on out, which would relegate the incumbent starter to the bench. (Probably not?)
Either way, betting odds reflected the potential passing of the baton.
Arch Manning was listed with +15000 odds to be named the best player in college football as of Friday night. He skyrocketed to +1600 less than 24 hours later.
- Cam Ward +550
- Jaxson Dart +700
- Jalen Milroe +700
- Nico Iamaleava +850
- Dillon Gabriel +900
- Carson Beck +1200
- Arch Manning +1600
- Will Howard +2000
- Ashton Jeanty +2000
- Miller Moss +2000
- Travis Hunter +3500
Anyone who bets on Arch Manning to win the Heisman Trophy is very optimistic that Quinn Ewers will not play again this season. Should that happen, and Texas makes an undefeated (or even one-loss) run to the College Football Playoff, it is very possible that another Manning quarterback is at least invited to New York City in December.