Late Saturday, it was unclear just how long Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers could be sidelined with a strained oblique or strained abdomen injury suffered against UTSA.
But the message was clear from the head coach to the veterans and all the way down. Backups like redshirt freshman Arch Manning are expected to be ready when their number is called.
“The moment’s not too big for him,” Sarkisian said. “I don’t feel handcuffed in any way.”
Manning certainly delivered in a 56-7 win over UTSA. He came into the game in the second quarter and accounted for five touchdowns, throwing for four scores and running straight down the middle for a blazing 67-yard score.
“He’s a calm guy that gets excited when he does good things,” Sarkisian said.
It was the longest touchdown run by a quarterback since Vince Young ripped off an 80-yarder against Oklahoma State in 2005.
“If you take Arch, for example, he prepares like a starter,” senior center Jake Majors said. “That’s what every guy in this program does. Whenever you go throughout the week, you prepare like a starter. When your number is called, we expect no drop off.”