AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Longhorns redshirt sophomore quarterback Arch Manning did not practice on Monday after entering concussion protocol as a result of a hit by the Mississippi State Bulldogs on a 13-yard scramble in overtime, head coach Steve Sarkisian revealed during his weekly press conference.
“We’ll have more information as the week goes,” Sarkisian said.
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Post-game reports from ESPN and Chip Brown of Horns247 broke the news that Manning suffered a concussion, which left him in the medical tent receiving treatment as his backup, redshirt senior Matthew Caldwell, threw the go-ahead touchdown to sophomore wide receiver Emmett Mosley.
The injury could keep Manning from playing next Saturday against No. 10 Vanderbilt, which beat No. 15 Missouri in Nashville on Saturday, 17-10.
Manning set a career high with 346 passing yards against the Bulldogs on 27-of-46 passing (63 percent) with three passing touchdowns, including two in the fourth quarter as the Longhorns rallied from a 17-point deficit in the final 12:29 of regulation. In the final quarter, Manning was at his best, going 12-of-20 for 166 yards, the first time a Longhorns quarterback has thrown for at least 150 passing yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarterback since Sam Ehlinger in 2019. The Texas starter added a rushing touchdown and the two longest runs of the night for Texas, scrambles of 15 yards and 13 yards.
If Manning can’t play against the Commodores, Caldwell will take over. The former Jacksonville State, Gardner-Webb, and Troy quarterback started six games for the Trojans last season, averaging 235.6 yards per game in his five starts to end the 2024 campaign and went 141-of-223 passing for 1,608 yards, 13 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, as well as recording five rushing touchdowns.
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With the Longhorns, Caldwell is 8-of-11 passing for 85 yards and the touchdown to Mosley with two carries for 64 yards. In SEC play, Caldwell has completed both of his passes while replacing Manning, completing a 26-yard pass in the loss to Florida in addition to the go-ahead touchdown on Saturday.
Sarkisian was impressed with how Caldwell performed taking first-team reps on Monday.
“I thought he had a great practice today,” Sarkisian said. “I think the players have a lot of confidence in him.”
