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College Football Fans Mesmerized by Arch Manning's Standout Spring Game Performance
For a year now, college football fans have been waiting for Texas to take the training wheels off quarterback Arch Manning.
The highly touted prospect threw just five collegiate passes in 2023, in blowout wins over Texas Tech and Oklahoma State. Meanwhile, the Longhorns' starting quarterback—Quinn Ewers—led his team to a Big 12 title and College Football Playoff berth.
Hard proof of Manning's potential has become as rare as Bigfoot sightings or Frank Ocean snippets. On Saturday, during its spring game, Texas finally let the spotlight shine on its future star.
In the first quarter, Manning uncorked a 75-yard touchdown pass that had college football fans drooling. He wound up with an unofficial final line of 355 yards and three touchdowns on 19 completions.
ARCH MANNING🚀🎯
— PFF College (@PFF_College) April 20, 2024
pic.twitter.com/f9vUZRRddg
Forget Longhorns fans. NFL fans already wanted a piece of former NFL quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning's nephew.
Here comes the we should keep Daniel then draft Arch tweets. 🤦🏿♂️🤦🏿♂️🤦🏿♂️ #NYGiants https://t.co/FJyTooh7na pic.twitter.com/TIgMBNIdck
— MOMO the WOKE DJ Clout Chaser who dont know ball (@Morice424) April 20, 2024
Some wondered whether Texas should reconsider its presumptive 2024 starter.
Should start over Ewers https://t.co/QohyqQjeIj
— get new uniforms Giants (@SotoCooperstown) April 20, 2024
Some remained naturally skeptical, given Manning's lack of regular season reps and his name.
hyping up practice highlights 4 months before season starts is generational nepotism https://t.co/GXOPwyBL63
— wahala (@imwahala) April 20, 2024
However, the ranks of the intrigued seemed to outnumber the pessimistic.
Anyone who thinks Arch is overhyped or lives off his name has indeed never watched Arch. Kid has everything. https://t.co/EE9P1gna4I
— Taylor Davis (@tay13gup) April 20, 2024
Oh, and one other note, Longhorns.
Why they still got Big12 on their field? https://t.co/aPUV8fKzRg
— GWALLA🐊⛳️🇱🇧 (@frankiegwalla) April 20, 2024
PATRICK ANDRES
Patrick Andres is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in December 2022, having worked for The Blade, Athlon Sports, Fear the Sword and Diamond Digest. Andres has covered everything from zero-attendance Big Ten basketball to a seven-overtime college football game. He is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism with a double major in history .