AUSTIN — Arch Manning found Cam Coleman for two early touchdown passes, but the game was an uneven night for the freshman quarterback as No. 1 Texas held on to beat UTSA 30-6 Saturday at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium.
Offense sputters, defense steadies Longhorns
Manning finished 16-of-32 for 161 yards and left the game with roughly six minutes remaining after taking several heavy hits. Despite flashes — including the two early scoring strikes to Coleman — the quarterback struggled to consistently move the offense and missed multiple open receivers, coaches said afterward.
Texas leaned on its defense and exchange of field goals from Gianni Spetic, who booted field goals of 52, 34 and 23 yards, and a late touchdown run to secure the victory. The Longhorn defense again was dominant, holding the Roadrunners to just 143 total yards and preventing UTSA from reaching the end zone.
Key plays and scoring
| Team | Score | Notable contributions |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 30 | Arch Manning 2 TD passes to Cam Coleman; Gianni Spetic 3 FGs; freshman Derrick Cooper 1st career TD run |
| UTSA | 6 | Held to 143 total yards, no touchdowns |
Texas took an early edge after a turnover set up the first touchdown. Rasheem Biles intercepted the Roadrunners on the game's opening play, and Coleman converted the ensuing possession into a score. Coleman later hauled in a leaping catch in the corner of the end zone to make it 17-3 in the second quarter.
- Manning: 16-for-32, 161 yards.
- Spetic: three field goals (52, 34, 23).
- Derrick Cooper: first career rushing touchdown with 8:57 remaining.
Young signal-caller candid about performance
After the game Manning did not shy from criticism of his own night. He described his performance as below expectations and acknowledged the offense will need to be sharper as Texas prepares to open Southeastern Conference play.
“I didn’t play well,” Manning said. “The offense has to play better if we’re going to beat Tennessee.”
Manning also absorbed several brutal collisions, including one in the second quarter that knocked his helmet off. The physical nature of the contest appeared to rattle Texas' timing at times; multiple throws sailed past open targets and a number of third-down opportunities went unfulfilled.
Off-field turmoil colors the week
The Longhorns came into the game with distractions from the previous week. Manning publicly apologized after laughing at a fabricated AI video showing head coach Steve Sarkisian in an incident with ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe. The team also was without linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator Johnny Nansen, who was suspended for the game following an arrest on a misdemeanor driving while intoxicated charge.
Sarkisian acknowledged the challenges of the week and said the sequence of events made it reasonable for the team to play a choppy game.
“Not an easy week, you know, from the highs of last week’s game to some of the stuff we had to deal with this week,” Sarkisian said. “That’s human nature.”
Looking ahead to SEC opener
Texas (3-0) ascended to the top of the polls after last week’s comeback against Ohio State, but the coaching staff and players know they will need cleaner performances as the schedule ramps up. The Longhorns travel next to No. 15 Tennessee to begin conference play, a game that already carries extra scrutiny given the program’s recent rise and this week’s headlines.
Despite the imperfections on offense, Texas left Austin with a win and another indication that its defense can carry the team in tight spots. The questions now center on whether Manning and the offense can rebound quickly and whether the program can steady itself off the field before a tough stretch of league games begins.
Reporting from Austin.
