GAINESVILLE — Arch Manning likely might have been feeling some deja vu as he departed Florida Field. In trying to put a forgettable September behind him, the Texas quarterback instead opened his October with another loss.
The Gators sank the No. 9 Longhorns in their Saturday SEC opener — and perhaps the playoff chances for a quarterback who once drew comparisons to Florida icon Tim Tebow.
For much of the day, the preseason Heisman candidate looked disjointed and failed to create momentum during a 29-21 loss to Florida (2-3, 1-1 SEC). Manning made some plays down the stretch to keep it close but finished 16 of 29 for 263 yards and two touchdowns but also two interceptions. A last-minute sack haunted the 21-year-old.
“I obviously can’t take a sack there and gotta clock it with enough time so we can get a shot at the end zone. It’s never a good feeling when you can’t get a play off in the end,” said Manning, the nephew of Super Bowl-winning QBs Peyton and Eli.
Coach Steve Sarkisian called the sack a learning lesson for Manning.
As Manning continues to suffer costly growing pains, Texas’ hopes to reach the CFP are slipping away a season after reaching the semifinals. The Longhorns still have four ranked teams on the schedule.
Coming off his best game of the season with a 309-yard, 3-touchdown effort against outmanned Sam Houston State, Manning struggled as he did prior to the 55-0 win. He had completed 55.3% of his passes with six touchdowns and three interceptions during his first three games.
Against the Gators, Manning was under pressure, suffered six sacks and was hurried 10 times as the Longhorns converted just 3 of 11 third downs.
“They’re a physical front. They’ve got good players. They’ve got a good scheme. They called a good game defensively,” Sarkisian said. “We had opportunities. That was probably the most frustrating part.”
Florida defensive lineman Brien Taylor Jr. led UF with 1.5 sacks, taking down Manning for an 8-yard loss on the final play of the first half. After Texas opened the second half with the ball, defensive tackle Michai Boireau sacked Manning for a 6-yard loss on Longhorns’ first drive.
When Manning threw down field, Florida capitalized. Defensive back Devin Moore intercepted a long pass from Manning into Gators territory with 7:22 remaining and UF leading 29-14.
“It means everything,” Moore said. “Just being able to be out there with my guys and celebrate when we make plays, it’s priceless.”
On occasion, the Texas quarterback did display glimmers of the player who was the nation’s top recruit in 2023.
Manning completed a 33-yard pass to Parker Livingstone after a Florida fumble to set up a 6-yard scoring pass two plays later to running back Quintrevion Wisner.
Later with Texas trailing 22-7, Manning ran for 15 yards early in a scoring drive that ended with a perfect 38-yard throw to Ryan Wingo, who had a few steps on UF cornerback Cormani McClain.
Manning added a 36-yard run in the fourth quarter, but he threw an interception to safety Jordan Castell that ended the drive.
Originally Published: