Key Points:
- Arch Manning was removed from Texas’ injury report ahead of Week 10.
- Manning is expected to start against No. 9 Vanderbilt, led by dual-threat quarterback Diego Pavia.
- Texas enters as 3.5-point favorites, seeking a key win to stay alive in SEC title contention.
As the No. 20 Texas Longhorns (6-2) look to keep its SEC championship and College Football Playoff hopes alive on Saturday in its Week 10 game against the No. 9 Vanderbilt Commodores (7-1), there was one question looming over the preseason No. 1 team.
The aforementioned question, of course, was centered around the status of star quarterback Arch Manning. The nephew of NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning and former No. 1 overall recruit, was concussed in the team’s 45-38 Week 9 overtime win over Mississippi State. Manning was the catalyst for the team’s fourth-quarter comeback, as the Longhorns were able to overcome a 17-point deficit to prevent the upset.
Despite being knocked out of the game on the first play of overtime, Manning still had a great outing as he completed 29-of-46 passes for a career-high 346 yards, with four total touchdowns. However, concerns grew throughout the week as Manning was placed into concussion protocol, with reports revealing that Troy transfer Matthew Caldwell was taking first-team reps.
On Friday, Manning’s status for the game was officially revealed, and it was one that will certainly excite Texas fans. As confirmed by On Texas Football’s CJ Vogel, Manning was removed from the team’s injury report.
This comes just one day after head coach Steve Sarkisian told the media that he was unsure of Manning’s status.
“I don’t have anything beyond for Arch just because we have to follow the protocol of the days and the reps, but he’s making good progress,” Sarkisian said via ESPN.
Arch Manning to duel with Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia
With Manning expected to start on Saturday, he is in line to face off against one of the most electric quarterbacks in college football in Vandy’s Diego Pavia. The New Mexico State transfer has led the program to a 7-1 start for the first time since 1941, and aside from his 1,698 passing yards and 15 scores through the air, Pavia also leads the team in rushing yards with 458.
Manning and the Longhorns are 1-1 against top 10 teams this year, suffering a loss to Ohio State in Week 1, and blowing out then-ranked No. 6 Oklahoma in Week 7.
Despite Pavia and Vandy coming into the game as the higher-ranked team, ESPN BET actually gives the Longhorns the edge as 3.5-point favorites. The Longhorns have a prime chance to secure another signature win and will also have the chance to play in Austin for the first time since the team’s Sept. 20 game against Sam Houston.
Despite Texas and Vanderbilt both having been around for quite a while in the college football space, the Week 10 meeting marks just the second time in their respective histories that they have played one another. Texas won the lone meeting last season in Nashville, 27-24.
Saturday’s game will kick off at noon ET, with the game airing on ABC.