3 reasons why Arch Manning could start for Texas after Quinn Ewers' Arkansas struggles 

Arch Manning joined the Texas Longhorns as a five-star prospect – and the top-ranked overall recruit – in the 2023 recruiting class. After hardly seeing the field as a true freshman, he has appeared in six games this season, making two starts in place of an injured Quinn Ewers.

He has thrown for 939 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions. Manning has completed 67.8% of his passes while adding 81 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries. Ewers, who initially joined the Ohio State Buckeyes as a five-star prospect and the top-ranked overall recruit in the 2022 recruiting class, joined the Longhorns via the transfer portal ahead of the 2022 season.

In his third season under center for Texas, Ewers has made eight starts, throwing for 1,898 yards, 21 touchdowns and six interceptions while completing 68.4% of his passes. However, he did not have his best game in Week 12 against Arkansas, leading to calls for Manning to take over in the final stretch.

Here's a closer look at three reasons why the Longhorns could make a shocking move.

3 reasons why Arch Manning could start for Texas after Quinn Ewers' Arkansas struggles

#1. He has outperformed the starting quarterback

Arch Manning has outperformed Quinn Ewers this season, albeit in a much smaller sample size. While he only has 90 pass attempts, compared to 247 for his counterpart, his production has been more impactful. Additionally, the Texas Longhorns offense has operated better with the younger quarterback under center.

While that could be due to the strength of the opponent – as he did not receive a start against a team that could be considered a true threat – the difference in performance between the two has been staggering.

#2. Texas Longhorns' remaining schedule

As mentioned above, Arch Manning received nearly all of his playing time against struggling opponents. Throwing him into the fire in a big-time matchup may not be a smart move, however, the Longhorns have one game remaining against a much weaker opponent.

They will host the Kentucky Wildcats in Week 13 before closing out their regular season slate with a visit to Kyle Field to take on the No. 15 Texas A&M Aggies. The winner of that game will see their schedule continue to get tougher as they will likely play in the SEC Championship Game and reach the College Football Playoff. Allowing Manning to start against a weaker opponent could allow him to knock off some rust.

#3. Texas Longhorns have a legitimate chance to win a national title

The Texas Longhorns are ranked No. 3 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. They have a legitimate chance to win a national title as they have been dominant on both sides of the football. While benching Quinn Ewers may hurt his draft stock, ultimately, head coach Steve Sarkisian has to do what is best for the program.

It is unlikely that Ewers will be relegated to second-string duties. If Sarkisian feels that Arch Manning gives the team the best chance to win out, however, he could make a move as the postseason field remains wide open.