Arch Manning and Texas were in dire need of a win on Saturday. This victory might just alleviate some of the anxiety surrounding the season. And, well, they got that win.
Now, let me clarify. Manning didn’t pull off any dramatic plays to secure a two-score victory over Oklahoma. He played a solid, mistake-free game, connecting on 21 of 27 passes for 166 yards and throwing a crucial 12-yard touchdown to DeAndre Moore Jr. right at the start of the second half.
While those statistics might seem rather ordinary, especially the yardage, they signified a key development in Manning’s progress. He chose to capitalize on the midrange opportunities presented by Oklahoma’s defense instead of forcing deeper throws.
Receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. recognized the shift in Manning’s approach and commended the Texas coaches for positioning him to succeed.
“Arch can make every throw,” Moore noted. “What counts is what the defense shows us. They had a lot of deep coverage, and Arch took advantage of that. It was a smart game plan.”
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian designed a strategy to alleviate pressure on Manning. Instead of primarily targeting downfield, he opted for screens and slants to help Manning get rid of the ball quickly, hoping for yards after the catch.
This mix of rhythm and pace proved effective for the Longhorns early on, with Manning completing eight of his first nine attempts.
However, Oklahoma’s head coach Brent Venables made crucial adjustments, increasing the pressure and causing several tackles for loss that threatened to disrupt Manning’s flow.
Yet, rather than changing the play calls, Texas stuck with Manning using his mobility to evade the rush and find open receivers during critical third-down situations.
According to CBS Sports, in the 11 third-down situations Texas faced over the last three quarters, Manning completed 8 of 9 passes for 105 yards and rushed for an additional 35 yards on two carries.
Texas, having suffered two losses and dropping out of the top 25 after a tough defeat to an unranked Florida team last week, bounced back with a 23-6 win against the No. 6 Sooners, potentially putting them back into the top 25.
And what about the College Football Playoff?
Don’t count them out just yet. Texas still has games against #20 Vanderbilt, #10 Georgia, and #5 Texas A&M. They have plenty of opportunities for quality wins to earn a spot in the 12-team CFP.
Sarkisian devised an effective game plan for his quarterback on Saturday. Now, they just need to replicate this success several more times.
