Arch Manning’s time may very well be coming.
Texas starting quarterback Quinn Ewers has a Grade 2 AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder and is anticipated to “miss a while,” based on ESPN.
The Longhorns now must resolve who to begin in Ewers’ absence, starting Saturday at home against BYU.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkasian told reporters if the sport was played Monday, he would turn to redshirt freshman quarterback Maalik Murphy.
Nonetheless, he added that each Murphy and Manning will get loads of reps in the course of the week.
Manning’s time will eventually come for Texas, however the Longhorns have a fragile balance without delay with their faint national title hopes still alive.
Ewers is mocked as a top pick in next 12 months’s draft, and beat out Manning for the job within the offseason.
With 1,915 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and just three interceptions, Ewers has done nothing to lose the job while leading Texas to No. 7 within the polls.
“I believe that the one thing about this team and the best way we practice, the team has loads of confidence in Maalik and Arch, because I know the way well those guys competed,” Sarkisian said. “We’ll devise a plan for whoever that QB is.”
Texas can hope Ewers, who Sarkisian said is week to week, heals fast and Murphy has a 12 months up on Manning in Texas’ offensive system.
Texas has to hope Murphy can hold the fort against a comparatively soft upcoming schedule.
Even when Manning doesn’t start, it’s possible he could still enter should Murphy struggle.
Manning has yet to play a snap this season.
Murphy threw just two passes in Ewers’ place in last Saturday’s 31-24 win over Houston, and has thrown eight total passes in his collegiate profession.
The Longhorns can’t afford one other slip-up in the event that they hope to make the College Football Playoff, they usually already face an uphill climb after a loss to No. 6 Oklahoma.
There are six undefeated teams remaining – all of that are ahead of Texas within the AP poll – and the Longhorns need some help to be considered one of the ultimate 4 teams.
Texas doesn’t face a current top-25 team over its final five games, though they may likely play themselves right into a rematch with Oklahoma within the Big 12 title game in the event that they win out.
