Texas came out and dominated UTSA despite the injuries.

The No. 2 Texas Longhorns did what you’re supposed to do against outmatched opponents — lean on them and pull away for a win that was never in doubt, exactly what happened on Saturday at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday in the 56-7 win over the UTSA Roadrunners.

While we still await the full prognosis for starting quarterback Quinn Ewers, who left the game in the first half with an abdominal strain, the offense cruised in the second half and looked explosive. A bevy of playmakers and an elite defensive playmaker showed their stuff in the lopsided win over an outmatched Roadrunners squad.

Arch Manning is the real deal

While fans are holding their breath with the health of Ewers, this served as an official coming out party on a national scale for Arch Manning. His first play replacing Ewers was a 19-yard touchdown strike to DeAndre Moore Jr. and he followed that with a highlight reel 67-yard touchdown run to start his day. When it was all said and done, he finished the game with an efficient 223 yards, with four of his nine completions going for touchdowns.

The game was already well within hand when he came in for Ewers and more often than not when a backup comes in during a blowout their day consists of handoffs and mop-up duty. Sarkisian and Manning combined to run up the score and show they can keep the train running while Ewers gets healthy.

Colin Simmons is ahead of schedule

One of the few criticisms of Texas against Michigan was a lack of sacks on the Wolverines’ quarterbacks as they dismantled the defending national champions. The story against UTSA was much different and led by the work of edge Colin Simmons, the former consensus five-star prospect who signed with the Horns as the No. 2 edge in the 2024 recruiting class.

The freshman phenom recorded two tackles for loss, one sack, and one quarterback hurry, finishing second on the team with six total tackles. He flashed his five-star talent several times in the game and was someone that the defense had to account for on every play.

The offense has more weapons than we thought

The Longhorns didn’t want for playmakers in this game, finding many of them in the process of blowing out the Roadrunners. Texas had six players with three or more receptions, led by Ryan Wingo’s three receptions for 127 yards and a score, with Isaiah Bond not far behind with five catches for 103 yards and two scores. It also marked the first time this year Bond didn’t record a drop in a game.

Johntay Cook II also emerged as a red zone target for Texas, showing off his speed turning a quick slant running past defenders into a 19-yard score and then flashing his hands at the back of the end zone for a 12-yard score late. After a coming-out party against Michigan, tight end Gunnar Helm had a rather pedestrian night, but his one catch was a highlight-reel moment finished with a hurdled defender, while the team’s touchdown leader Matthew Golden wasn’t needed deep into the game.

On the ground, Jerrick Gibson looks like a legitimate running threat, bulldozing defenders when Quintrevion Wisner’s day ended early.