AUSTIN (KXAN) — What a difference one week makes! After Arch Manning’s lackluster week three performance against UTEP, Manning said he needed to “have fun.”
In Saturday night’s game against Sam Houston State, you could see the fun in Manning’s 300+ passing yards and five total touchdowns.
“I think there was some built up frustration from the last few weeks,” Manning said.
Saturday’s matchup against the Bearkats has easily been Manning’s best game this season. It was his first game without throwing an interception, throwing for 300 yards and multiple passing touchdowns.
In regards to the emotions Manning displayed, it looked uncharacteristic from the third generation Manning.
“I think I play better that way, truth be told,” Manning replied when asked why he needed to play with that emotion.
The offensive production couldn’t have come at a better time as the Longhorns enter their first of two bye weeks this season.
“Definitely during the bye week I like to get out, I like to recruit,” head coach Steve Sarkisian said. “I like to get around our guys, see our committed players.”
Coming off the bye, No. 10 Texas is on the road to open SEC play against the Florida Gators in Gainesville — the first of four games away from DKR Memorial Stadium, followed by road games against Oklahoma (Dallas), Kentucky and Mississippi State.
“Some of the teams in our conference have some really brutal schedules,” Sarkisian said.
“I look at Florida just kind of the gauntlet they’ve already been part of. They’re at LSU one week and the next week they’re at Miami. They’re playing really well. Defense these guys are playing at a high, high level,” Sarkisian added.
Florida’s season hasn’t been exactly what many expected with sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway. The Gators are off to a 1-3 record but are also on a bye after losing three consecutive games to USF, LSU and Miami.