Is Arch Manning playing today? Texas QB's availability for Week 7 explored

The Texas Longhorns are set to take on the Oklahoma Sooners in the Red River Rivalry on Saturday at the Cotton Bowl. Ahead of the matchup, the big question for Texas is at quarterback as Quinn Ewers looks to return from injury, while backup Arch Manning has played well since taking over.

Is Arch Manning playing today?

Will Arch Manning start today? - Source: Imagn

Arch Manning has started the last two games for Texas, but he won't start for the Longhorns against Oklahoma. Starting quarterback Quinn Ewers will be back in the lineup on Saturday against the Sooners, coach Steve Sarkisian announced.

Ewers has missed the last two games as Manning started, and despite having success, Texas will be going back to Ewers as the team's starter.

“You know, Quinn has earned and deserved that right to be our starting quarterback,” Sarkisian said, via On3. "Arch has continued to work really hard. Like I said, we’re fortunate to have him and the player that he is, the leader that he is as well."

This season, Manning has gone 55 for 78 for 901 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions. He kept Texas undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the nation, but Sarkisian said Ewers was going to start again once he was healthy.

“It’s just me being honest. I sleep better when I’m honest,” Sarkisian added. “So, just being honest. I mean, that’s how I genuinely feel. I speak to it like I would anything else. I try to be very matter of fact with y’all. So I don’t feel like I’m trying to send messages or mix messages or anything,” Sarkisian said. “It’s just that that’s how I feel.”

Despite Quinn Ewers returning as the starting quarterback, Manning is the primary backup and could still get into game action even with Ewers healthy. But for now, Manning will continue to learn and develop before he takes over as Texas' starter next season.

The Longhorns are the top-ranked team in college football and are a 14.5-point favorite against Oklahoma on Saturday.