Arch Manning Heisman odds: Texas backup QB rankings skyrocket after Quinn Ewers' injury

Arch Manning has skyrocketed up the Heisman Trophy odds after coming in to replace Quinn Ewers in Week 3 for Texas. Manning, the nephew of former NFL stars Peyton and Eli Manning, is the backup quarterback at Texas and would not have expected to see much playing time this year. However, an injury to Ewers on Saturday allowed the backup to enter the game.

When Ewers went down against UTSA, Manning did not disappoint in relief. He stepped up, completing nine of 12 pass attempts, throwing for 223 yards and four touchdowns. He also did well on his feet, rushing three times for 53 yards and one touchdown. His performance helped the Longhorns get a 56-7 win over UTSA.

After the game, Manning's Heisman odds went up significantly. Ewers was the previous betting favorite, and now Manning is ranked seventh by FanDuel with +1700 odds.

Is it realistic for Arch Manning to win the Heisman Trophy?

While it might not seem likely for a backup quarterback to win the Heisman, it is not impossible. Manning has a few things going for him that could help his chances of winning.

Firstly, Manning is not a typical backup quarterback. He is regarded as a top prospect and would start on most teams. However, Texas also had Ewers, who was the front-runner for the Heisman before he was injured.

Additionally, Manning has the advantage of playing for Texas. The Longhorns are going to be a good team, no matter what. Texas is a deep team at nearly every position, so Manning does not need to be a superstar to win games and have good stats. As long as he does not make many mistakes, his numbers will look good.

Lastly, it helps that he has a famous name. Arch Manning is part of the Manning family, and that could play in voter's minds. They will not vote for him just because he is a Manning, but if it is a close vote, it could be a tiebreaker.

What happened to Quinn Ewers, and will he be back?

Ewers suffered a strained abdomen in the second quarter of the Longhorns' Week 3 game against UTSA. He spent 15 minutes in the medical tent before leaving for the locker room with a towel over his head.

Head coach Steve Sarkisian has not given a definitive update on Ewers. He told reporters that the severity of the injury is not known, but they don't think it's anything structural or broken.

If Ewers can return from his injury soon, Manning will go back into the backup role, and his Heisman hopes will be dashed. However, if Ewers is out long-term, Manning could have a Heisman case.