When will Arch Manning take his first snap for the Longhorns?
That is one of the subplots of the season opener for No. 11 Texas against Rice on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., and the Longhorns are favored by 35 points.
Quinn Ewers – a former five-star recruit – begins his second season as Texas' starter will see most of the action against the Owls – who feature three-time transfer quarterback JT Daniels.
Ever heard of a backup quarterback controversy? That best describes what to expect for Texas on Saturday between redshirt freshman Maalik Murphy and freshman Arch Manning.
"Maalik and Arch, right now, they're both doing well," Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said during his weekly press conference. "Who do we feel like come Thursday is the guy that kind of earned that opportunity to be the backup this week? That'll be who the backup is."
Will we find out the answer before Saturday's game? That's doubtful, so it will come down to who takes that first snap if the Longhorns get way ahead.
Here is a look at what to expect from the Longhorns quarterback on Saturday.
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Texas QB depth chart
1. Quinn Ewers
Sarkisian was asked about Ewers being named the starter before fall camp and why not having a quarterback controversy matters this season.
"It feels great by the way, not to have questions about it," Sarkisian said.
Ewers, who won the starting job last season, showed even more comfort in the spring game. He finished 16 of 23 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown. Ewers (6-2, 195) is a five-star quarterback from Carroll (Southlake, Texas) High School and started 10 games for the Longhorns last season.
The question for Ewers is whether the strong-armed quarterback can continue to grow as a down-field passer, which would make him an enticing prospect for the 2024 NFL Draft. Sarkisian addressed that at Big 12 Media Days on July 12.
"If things go like we think they can go, the pundits are probably right," Sarkisian said. "He is a first-round draft-pick quarterback."
That second season as a starter with Sarkisian should make a difference for Ewers, who will come into focus more in the Week 2 matchup against No. 4 Alabama. Ewers was 9 of 12 for 134 yards in last year's matchup against the Crimson Tide before leaving with a shoulder injury. Alabama won 20-19.
Still, expectations are high for Ewers and the Texas offense in 2023.
"I think there's a level of confidence," Sarkisian said. “I think Quinn and I have got to a really cool space of communication and understanding. I'm able to talk to him about the minutiae in plays and defense and the things. He's earned those conversations. … As an offense and a team, we're reaping the benefits of that."
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2A. Maalik Murphy
Murphy – a 6-5, 238-pound quarterback, is a four-star quarterback from Junipero Serra High School (Inglewood, Calif.).
Murphy did not see game action last season, but that extra year in the program has made it a true battle for the backup job. He impressed in the spring game by hitting 9 of 13 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown. Murphy has made it a true competition with Manning for the backup job.
Murphy had the edge in the spring – he was ahead of Manning when the quarterbacks alternated in the spring game. The fact Murphy did not enter the transfer portal means he still has a shot to play meaningful snaps, and the real quarterback battle with Manning will not begin until 2023.
2B. Arch Manning
Because there is no depth chart, that leaves the possibility that Manning will get the first series behind Ewers, which is sure to get a round of applause due in part to the celebrity that comes with being the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning.
The challenge? Manning (6-4, 212) has to make a name for himself. That is the challenge for the five-star recruit from Isidore Newman (New Orleans) High School.
Manning alternated series with Murphy in the spring game and finished 5 of 13 for 30 yards. In this case, the backup battle will be more scrutinized depending on how many snaps each quarterback gets against Rice. Manning's first few throws are almost certain to go viral.
Playing behind Ewers and battling with Murphy, however, is going to help Manning in the long run. After all, Peyton opened his freshman season fourth on the depth chart, and Eli didn't start until his sophomore year.
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Manning likely will eventually take over the backup quarterback job full time as the season progresses, but he has to earn that on a week-to-week basis.
