Arch Manning did something on Saturday that his star uncles never did in their illustrious NFL and NCAA careers.
Late in the first quarter during Texas’ 52-37 blowout win against Arkansas, the Longhorns perfectly executed their version of the “Philly Special” trick play that resulted in Manning catching the ball in the end zone on a pass from wide receiver Parker Livingstone.
Despite playing in 502 combined NFL games on top of each playing four seasons of college football, neither Peyton nor Eli Manning ever logged a receiving touchdown, thus putting Arch in some unique territory within the Manning family.
Manning’s receiving touchdown was just one of six total scores the 21-year-old racked up on Saturday, as he threw for four and rushed one in while completing 18-of-30 passes with 389 yards in what is arguably the best performance of his college career so far.
Livingstone led all receivers during the contest with 104 receiving yards with just two receptions.
Saturday’s win gives Texas an 8-3 record, which technically keeps the Longhorns in College Football Playoff contention, although they would have to have a flawless end of the season to have a real shot.
Texas’ victory also comes just days after head coach Steve Sarkisian shot down rumors that he was planning to leave the Longhorns, saying that any speculation is “absolutely false and untrue.”
“I’ve had no discussions, not with my agent, not with the university, not with any other school, not with any NFL team, about ever going anywhere else,” Sarkisian said during a long rant during the SEC coaches teleconference on Wednesday. “I came here to win championships. I’ve got two kids enrolled at the University of Texas, one in law school, one on our team.
“I’ve got a third that hopefully decides to enroll at the University of Texas next fall. And my wife and I just had our son here in Austin. This is our home. We came here to win championships.”
Sarkisian continued by pointing to the success of the Longhorns’ football program since he took over in 2021.
“We’ve built a damn good football program over the five years that we’ve been here,” he said. “We’ve been to two College Football Playoffs. We won a Big 12 championship. We went to the SEC championship game in Year One. We’ve had 23 players drafted the last two years, which is more than any other school in the country. And our team GPA is at an all-time high.
“So can we please stop putting things out there that you have absolutely zero evidence on, and then can we please stop retweeting, putting it back out there, as if it’s true, as if it’s the gospel? It is not true.”
