Arch Manning taking all practice reps as backup QB for Texas - ESPN

NEW ORLEANS — Texas quarterback Arch Manning has taken all the reps as the backup quarterback during practice for the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl, the first time this season he heads into a game as the No. 2 player behind starter Quinn Ewers.

Manning, who arrived at Texas for his freshman season as the most heralded quarterback in the country, was elevated to the backup spot for the game against Washington after Maalik Murphy announced he was entering the transfer portal. Murphy has since announced that he plans to transfer to Duke.

«When you get into the season, you don't always have the opportunity to get everybody the amount of reps that you would like to. So I think that's the biggest change for him,» Texas offensive coordinator Kyle Flood said Friday in the first time he has addressed the personnel change.

«We've got a ton of confidence in Arch,» Flood continued. «I think his progression throughout the year has been excellent. He's a real student of the game, and he's approached it like that from the very beginning. So I think probably the best thing for him and for us as a team was that, when that happened, it was very easy for him to just continue to do what he was doing, because he never approached it like he was the third quarterback or the backup quarterback. He approaches everything like he's the starting quarterback. I think that's the key when you're in a reserve role of being ready when you're called upon.»

Manning also happens to be preparing for a game in his native New Orleans. Manning played at Isidore Newman High School and is the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning. His father, Cooper Manning, played wide receiver at Ole Miss.

Arch Manning was the No. 2 overall prospect