Texas hosting Louisiana-Monroe this weekend has quickly turned into one of the more-anticipated non-conference games of the season, despite it likely to end in a multi-touchdown blowout. And that’s for one lone reason: The next generation of the Manning family is getting a start at quarterback.

Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian made the announcement this week that as starter Quinn Ewers deals with an abdominal injury, sophomore Arch Manning will get the start. But amidst all the furor, Sarkisian is hoping to keep things simple on Manning.

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He doesn’t need Manning trying to overstep his bounds and getting out over his skis. He just wants him to play clean, good football. From there, the team will begin to follow.

“I don’t think he has to focus on leading right now,” Sarkisian said. “I think he needs to focus on knowing what he’s supposed to do, playing at a high level.”

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Sarkisian also noted that the rest of the Texas lineup on offense has plenty of veterans and experience to pick up whatever slack might be left in the leadership department. From a veteran offensive line group to experienced receivers, Manning will have no shortage of experience around him to lean on.

“We’ve got a veteran offensive line in front of him, those guys, they know what it’s about,” Sarkisian said. “He’s got a great leader at tight end in Gunnar Helm. He’s got a couple veteran wide receivers that have played a lot of football on the outside and then he’s got a core of guys that really he came in with or freshman that he’s got really good rapport with.”

And Manning has so far looked good in his limited action, which will only serve to help him win the respect and trust of his teammates as a player and leader if he continues to do his job.

Playing in relief of the injured Ewers against UTSA in Week 3, Manning went 9-of-12 passing for 223 yards and four touchdowns as Texas won in a rout. He also rushed for 53 net yards and a long touchdown.

Sarkisian knows more of that from Manning on the field will do more than enough as he leads by example.

“So, I think the best way he’s going to lead is by doing what he’s done all week which is prepare really well, do his job at a high level and then his natural leadership will come out when it’s supposed to,” Sarkisian said. “But our focus has been on him playing good football and the leadership stuff will come as it comes.” 

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