It is no secret that the Oklahoma Sooners have a major challenge on Saturday against the No. 1 Texas Longhorns. The Longhorns are led by star quarterback Arch Manning.
He's the grandson of legendary college quarterback Archie Manning and the nephew of NFL icons Peyton and Eli Manning. When he signed with Texas, he was the highest-rated recruit in history. While there has been a lot of hype, his play hasn't warranted much of it. He's completing 63.5% of his passes for 862 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions this year. In fact, he has only one game in which he has thrown for more than 205 yards this season.
Despite that, head coach Brent Venables raved about Manning, saying that the quarterback has no weaknesses.
"He's a really good player,"
Venables said. "You said in all of the big games he plays well; that's what good players will do. Arch is a fantastic talent. He's got a cannon of an arm. He can really run. He's a tremendous athlete... He's got no weaknesses when it comes to his talent, his ability, his arm, his legs, you know, his instincts."
Venables' praise for Manning makes the challenge clear, but Oklahoma's defense has already shown it can compete against talented offenses. The key will be forcing Manning to consistently make difficult decisions while limiting the explosive plays that can quickly change the game.
If the Sooners can contain Manning and keep Texas from finding an early rhythm, they can give themselves a chance to control the game and keep it competitive into the second half. For an Oklahoma team looking for a spark, slowing down the Longhorns' star quarterback could be the first step toward a statement win in the Red River Rivalry.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Brent Venables on Arch Manning: 'He's got no weaknesses'
