Arch Manning grades in SEC debut: Texas QB an easy 'A' against Mississippi State

Bill Bender

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Arch Manning grades in SEC debut: Texas QB an easy 'A' against Mississippi State image

It took almost half of the first quarter to get Arch Manning the ball in his SEC debut against Mississippi State on Saturday. 

Eventually, Manning showed improvement in his second career start in place of Quinn Ewers, who missed a second consecutive start with an abdominal strain. 

The Longhorns pulled away in the second half in a 35-13 victory against the Bulldogs. Manning showed improved decision making a week after Texas coach Steve Sarkisian encouraged the QB to use the check-down to his advantage. Last week, Sarkisian graded Manning as a “C-plus.” 

Manning responded with an "A" despite a final score that was a bit closer than many expected.

The bad: Texas turned the ball over twice and also dropped what would have been a sure-TD pass. The good: Manning executed a nice combination of vertical shots in the passing game and athletic plays in the running game.  He also showed impressive patience, taking the checkdown throw when necessary.

Arch Manning's stats against Mississippi State 

Manning finished 26 of 31 on the day for 324 yards and two TDs. He added six rushes for 33 yards and another TD. In his two starts this season, he is 41 of 60 for 572 yards, four TDs and two interceptions. 

Arch Manning's first quarter: A+ 

Manning didn't take his first snap until the 7:51 mark in the first quarter after a 13-play Mississippi State drive. 

He worked the entire field in short order. He hit Matthew Golden on a deep square-in on the first play, which resulted in a 15-yard face-mask penalty. Manning worked a run-pass option to Isaiah Bond and a short pass to Gunnar Helm. That led to a 21-yard pass on a fade to DeAndre Moore down the sideline. Jaydon Blue cashed in with a 2-yard touchdown run. 

Manning was 4 of 4 for 56 yards on that drive, and Texas led 7-0 with 6:06 yard in the first quarter. 

Arch Manning in second quarter: B

Manning nearly led the Longhorns to a second TD drive in two possessions on a drive keyed by a 27-yard pass to Bond on a crossing route. Blue lost a fumble in the red zone, however, and the Longhorns' offense stalled on the next two possessions. Manning was 7 of 8 for 105 yards in the second quarter. 

Manning missed a wide-open receiver on the third drive and took a sack from Branden Jennings on the third drive, and Johntay Cook III dropped a sure touchdown on a deep pass from Manning on the following drive. The deep ball to Cook was the best throw of the half – up until that point. 

Arch Manning in two-minute drill: A

Manning got one last possession with Texas leading 7-6 at 1:56 left in the first half, and two third-down conversions showed the growth in his second start. 

On third-and-8, Manning hit Jaydon Blue on a check-down – which Sarkisian harped on in his Monday press conference. That first down prolonged the drive, and the Longhorns faced a third-and-9 from the 49-yard line with 29 seconds left in the half. 

Manning dropped back, took a hit from Mississippi state edge rusher Stone Blanton and dropped in a 49-yard TD pass to Moore on another perfect deep pass. 

Texas led 14-6, and Manning was 15 of 19 for 202 yards at halftime. 

Arch Manning in third quarter: B

Texas failed to score on its first two drives of the second half. Blue lost a second fumble on the first possession of the second half, and Manning sailed a fourth-down pass intended for Bond on the next drive. 

Then Manning went to work on the next drive. He hit Cook for a 31-yard pass on a crossing route then showcased his athleticism on back-to-back plays. Manning took a nasty hit on an 8-yard run, a good reminder that sometimes sliding isn't a bad option.

Then, Manning shot through the second level for a 26-yard run and extended at the goal line for a play that could have been ruled a TD. Manning would score on a third-down sneak. 

Texas led 21-6 after three quarters. Manning was 20 of 25 for 255 yards with six rushes for 33 yards at that point. 

Arch Manning in fourth quarter: A

Manning was good in closing time. He guided an eight–play, 85-yard drive that put the game out of reach. He capped that with a 28-yard TD pass to DeAndre Moore on third-and-8. 

Mississippi State responded with a TD, and Manning managed a drive in response where he threw just one pass – a 14-yard completion to Golden. Isaiah Bond took a reverse for a 26-yard TD with 3:03 remaining. 

What's next for Arch Manning? 

The Longhorns have a bye week, which means Ewers will have an extra week to get ready for the Sooners. Sarkisian has maintained Ewers will be the starter when he returns – and that means Manning will return to his role as the best backup quarterback in the FBS. 

It will be interesting to see if Sarkisian carves out a role on a game-by-game basis, but that seems unlikely given Ewers took all of the snaps in a Week 2 victory against Michigan. Manning gained valuable experience that will benefit him this season as he grows into that role of full-time starter. He certainly has lived up to the hype so far.

MORE: How Steve Sarkisian has managed Ewers vs Manning

 

Bill Bender

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Bill Bender graduated from Ohio University in 2002 and started at The Sporting News as a fantasy football writer in 2007. He has covered the College Football Playoff, NBA Finals and World Series for SN. Bender enjoys story-telling, awesomely-bad 80s movies and coaching youth sports.