The redshirt freshman will make his first career start for the Longhorns with Quinn Ewers still recovering from injury.

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Longhorns redshirt freshman quarterback Arch Manning will make his first career start on Saturday as the No. 1-ranked Longhorns host the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, head coach Steve Sarkisian announced during his Thursday media availability.

The starter, redshirt junior Quinn Ewers, suffered an oblique strain during last Saturday’s home win over UTSA, leaving the game early in the second quarter and will miss the final non-conference game against ULM.

“I feel like Quinn has made great strides ever since Saturday night into where he’s gotten to,” Sarkisian said. “My decision is I’m looking forward to his future as a player, but also the future of the season for us in the longevity in getting him possibly one more week healthier for the long term I think is good for us as we’re getting ready for SEC play.”

On in relief of Ewers, Manning was sensational in the most extended action of his young college career, throwing a 19-yard touchdown on his first play from scrimmage, running for a 67-yard touchdown on his third play, and finishing 9-of-12 passing for 223 yards and four touchdowns.

“Arch is more than capable, as I think we all know. He’s got a lot of confidence from his teammates and trust from his teammates to go out and play, had a really good week of work, understands the plan,” Sarkisian said. “But it’s different, it’s different when you’re the starting quarterback as opposed to coming in cold off the bench as a backup, so different challenge for him, but I know that he’ll be more than ready to go out and operate and play football at high level for us.”

With Manning preparing to start, the challenge does shift for the young quarterback.

“Now he’s had all week to really study the game plan, knowing the openers, things of that nature. What my goal is, I just don’t want him to kind of overanalyze and get himself into kind of the paralysis by analysis state. I want him to play football, and the best way to play football is trust the call, go execute it, and then move on to the next play,” Sarkisian said.

Among other injured Texas players, Sarkisian said that junior running back Jaydon Blue, sophomore running back Quintrevion Wisner, and sophomore safety Jelani McDonald are all likely game-time decisions against ULM. Blue and McDonald both missed the UTSA game with ankle injuries while Wisner suffered a knock during the game and did not return.