Arch Manning's first game as the Texans' starting quarterback got off to a shaky start.
But that didn't last long.
Manning was intercepted by UL-Monroe's Carl Fantroy on the first attempt of Saturday night's game at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas.
But as expected, Manning picked up the momentum from there and led Texas to a thumping 51-3 victory.
Manning played the full game and completed 15 of 29 attempts for 258 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
On his first drive after the interception, the redshirt freshman completed a seven-play, 77-yard drive to give the Longhorns a 7-0 lead that was capped off by a 56-yard pass to Isaiah Bond and a 1-yard run by Jaedon Blue.
Manning was just getting started.
After the Texas defense gave Manning a short field after the interception, he went back to work, finishing off a four-play, 13-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Blue to give the Longhorns a 14-0 lead.
After UL-Monroe was forced to punt, Manning completed a 17-yard touchdown pass to star rookie receiver Ryan Wingo, capping off a six-play, 73-yard drive that extended Texas' first-quarter lead to 21-0.
Manning was unstoppable in the second quarter.
He led Texas on a 12-play, 87-yard drive highlighted by a 46-yard pass to Matthew Golden and a 19-yard strike to Bonds and a 2-yard run by Blue.
After the Warhawks scored their first point on a field goal, Manning got the ball back, but this time it was intercepted by Widet Williams Jr., giving UL-Monroe favorable field position.
The turnover didn't end up costing them much, though, as the Longhorns blocked Max Hunter's 45-yard field goal to close out the half.
Manning finished the first half completing 11 of 21 for 214 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Arch, the son of Cooper Manning, grandson of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning and nephew of Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Eli Manning, came off the bench last week to lead the Longhorns to a blowout win over UTSA after preseason Heisman Trophy candidate Quinn Ewers was sidelined with an oblique injury.
Manning and the Longhorns scored another touchdown in the third quarter thanks to their strength in blue and the running game, taking a 35-3 lead.
Texas then added a safety and led 37-3 going into the fourth quarter.
The Longhorns scored a quick touchdown early in the fourth quarter, capping a nine-play, 63-yard drive by Manning that mixed run and pass play to extend the lead to 44-3.
Late in the final period, the Longhorns completed a 10-play, 57-yard drive to take a 51-3 lead and look to keep Manning healthy in a game that was already decided.
The Longhorns received some encouraging news Saturday regarding Ewers' injury status.
Ewers is scheduled to return in two weeks for the Oct. 12 game against Red River rivals Oklahoma. According to ESPN's Pete Thamel:.
“There's an overwhelming expectation that, barring any setbacks, he'll be back for that game,” Thamel said on the network's “College GameDay” show.
If that happens, Manning will get one more start next week against Mississippi State, after which Texas will have a break before a showdown against Oklahoma.
