Arch Manning – nephew of Eli and Payton – FINALLY makes his college debut for Texas as he enters the field in the third quarter… and the crowd are so loud he has to tell them to quiet down!

Texas Longhorns freshman quarterback Arch Manning finally made his long-awaited NCAA debut during a 57-7 blowout win over hated rival Texas Tech on Friday night.

There has been a huge clamor from fans to see the 18-year-old – who is the nephew of NFL legends Peyton and Eli, and the grandson of Archie – and they finally got their chance in the third quarter in Austin, Texas.

In the game, not only did the No. 7 Longhorns win the traveling trophy awarded to the winner of the rivalry game but they also secured a place in the Big 12 championship game. 

After checking into the game during garbage time to relieve starting quarterback and highly touted NFL prospect Quinn Ewers, Manning completed two of five passes for only 30 yards. 

He also registered three carries for a mere seven yards. Before taking his first snap Manning was forced to gesture to the crowd for them to quieten down, such was the ferocity of their cheers for his arrival. 

Fans in attendance were excited to get their first look at the true freshman after there were serious questions about whether or not he would even step foot on the field this season after being slotted as the third string QB behind Ewers and fellow freshman Maalik Murphy.

Manning completed only two of five passes for 30 yards and had little impact in the blowout

Murphy had filled in for Ewers instead of Manning several times this season, both in mop-duty and when Ewers was dealing with a shoulder injury.

Earlier this Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian had basically stated Murphy was the safer option at QB, which entrenched him in the backup role. 

‘[Murphy]’s always had the highlight plays, but then there’s been plays that were not-so-highlight in taking care of the football,’ Sarkisian said after the season-opener vs. Rice. 

‘I think he’s done a much better job of doing that. Clearly, I think we saw glimpses of some of the throws that he was able to make in that ballgame last week.’

Coming into the season many had wondered if Manning would use his freshman year as a redshirt season, with some whom were connected to the program anticipating just that during the off season.

The freshman is the nephew of legendary NFL quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Eli Manning 

The Longhorns won in style on Friday night to qualify for the Big 12 Championship game

‘I really feel like Arch has a great opportunity,’ said legendary Longhorns quarterback Vince Young to Johnson on ESPN’s First Take.

‘One of the things that I’m hearing is that he is going to redshirt. That’s going to help out a lot, so you can understand how to travel with the team. Get the feel of the fans, the university.’ 

Recent changes to the NCAA redshirt rule could still allowing Manning to go down that route and preserve a year of eligibility even though he’s played – if he does not play in three more games this season.