Arch Manning is officially on the board.
The former five-star recruit and famed nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning stepped in during the fourth quarter of No. 7 Texas’ 57-7 stomping over Texas Tech on Friday night and got his first taste of Power Five college football in relief.
The big-name true freshman completed 2 of 5 passes for 30 yards through the air and rushed for an additional seven yards on the ground.
The 18-year-old Manning entered the contest with about two minutes to go in the third quarter, as Texas maintained a 50-7 lead, and he subsequently finished off the rout.
When dropping back for his first pass with about a minute left in the third, there was a notable and palpable buzz in the air at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, which quickly grew to loud cheers as Manning tucked it and ran for five yards on third-and-4, recording his first of potentially many college first downs.
As the third quarter ended, he held up four fingers to signify the fourth quarter, and he then hyped up the crowd with a big smile on his face.
He added a run of 12 yards before his first drive ended on a turnover on downs after his second pass went incomplete on fourth-and-goal.
With 5:12 left in the final stanza, Manning completed his first pass on third-and-3, where he flashed some mobility in the pocket.
Manning ran to his right side out of the shotgun and threw a bullet pass to fellow true freshman Johntay Cook II for 17 yards and a first down.
Manning added a second completed pass on fourth-and-5 near midfield with 2:55 to go in the game, as he hit Casey Cain for 13 yards and a first down.
With the win, Texas clinched a berth in the Big 12 title game, keeping its College Football Playoff hopes alive.
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