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Arch Manning will be QB2 for the Sugar Bowl following the news that Maalik Murphy will enter the transfer portal. The reserve passer is moving on from Austin after two seasons with the program.
Murphy was called upon in seven games this year, making a pair of starts for an injured Quinn Ewers. Now, he’ll pass the torch to Manning as the playoffs approach.
Murphy took a redshirt in his true freshman season, but he saw big-time game action in 2023. Making two starts midway through the year, he led the Longhorns to wins over Kansas State and BYU.
In those matchups, the gunslinger threw for 418 yards and three scores. Texas might not be in the CFP without him.
Still, when Ewers returned to full strength, Murphy found himself back on the bench.
Reports broke Wednesday about his intention to enter the transfer portal, with the quarterback noting playing time as a major factor.
Source: Texas quarterback Maalik Murphy intends to enter the NCAA transfer portal. He’s alerted the Texas coaching staff of his intentions.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 13, 2023
By all accounts, Murphy went about the decision in the best way possible, which isn’t a surprise given he spurned the advances of programs looking to poach last offseason.
“I hate it, I hate it,” he told ESPN. “I’m super invested in this team… it’s hard to walk away, especially at this point during the season… It’s nothing against Texas, at all… I just want to be in a position where I can play.”
Unfortunately, with the transfer portal window, the timing wouldn’t allow for him to wait until after the College Football Playoff to make that move.
Arch Manning assumes QB2 role, with potential to start in ’24
With Murphy out, Manning will be the first option off the bench for the Sugar Bowl, and potentially the national championship should the Longhorns land a win over Washington.
The highly recruited freshman is certainly talented, but he’s been seldom used to this point.
His spring game performance didn’t build much confidence with the fanbase, and he threw just five passes in the regular season.
Ewers will take the snaps in the Sugar Bowl, but he still hasn’t made a decision on his future. Many believe he’ll return for another year in Austin, but the NFL Draft is still on the table.
Should he choose to go that route, Manning might just be QB1 for the ’24 campaign, which would be fitting given Texas’s transition into the SEC.
Time will tell how it all works out for the Longhorns, but Manning is getting closer to a real opportunity at playing time.
We’ll see if his number is called in the College Football Playoff.