Arch Manning took a scary fall during Texas’ pregame smoke entrance last Saturday, but talk about shaking it off. The dude went from a tumble to throwing for 304 yards and four touchdowns in a massive 59-7 win over Texas State, exiting in the third quarter after the Longhorns built a huge lead. What a way to kick off his second season!
“First Hit Before the Game Starts”
Manning’s pregame slip was definitely a shocker. He told reporters, “It was definitely a little bit of a shock. I was definitely thrown off.” Can you even imagine? Tripping over a videographer in a cloud of smoke right before kickoff? He nailed it when he said, “It’s hard to see in that smoke. It’s a little deceiving.” But the most important part? He bounced right back up, avoided any non-football injury, and got ready to roll. He even joked, “But it was good, first hit before the game starts and get ready to roll.” That kind of mindset is exactly what you want from your starting QB, especially when Texas has national championship aspirations. Losing him to a fluke injury before the season even truly began would have derailed everything. Instead, he shook it off and lit up the scoreboard.
Heisman Hopes and a Revenge Game on Deck
Expectations are absolutely sky-high for Manning as he enters his second season as Texas’ starter, and after that Week 1 performance, you can see why. The kid is already tied with Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss for the second-best odds to win the Heisman, only behind Miami quarterback Darian Mensah. Last season was a strong start for him, throwing for 3,163 yards, 26 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, plus another 399 rushing yards and 10 scores on the ground. He’s looking to build on that, and this week brings a major test.
Manning and the Longhorns are set to face top-ranked Ohio State at home. The Buckeyes got the better of Texas last year, so this isn’t just another game; it’s a full-on revenge mission for Manning. He told reporters, “It’s not all the time you get a second chance to play another team after a rough loss. So we’re all excited for the opportunity. I think we’ve all grown mentally and physically.” Sounds like he’s locked in. This Ohio State game is going to be HUGE. He just needs to make sure he avoids any more hits in the tunnel this time around!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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