KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Arch Manning finally visits Neyland Stadium where his uncle Peyton made quite the legacy for himself when top-ranked Texas visits No. 14 Tennessee.
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian doesn't want his quarterback trying to live up to anyone else on Saturday. Not grandfather Archie nor either of his championship-winning uncles, Peyton and Eli. Don't compare the current quarterback to Colt McCoy or Vince Young of the Longhorns' past either.
“I want him to be Arch Manning, and Arch Manning is plenty good enough to put us in position to win,” Sarkisian said.
The last time a Manning played at Neyland Stadium, Peyton led the Volunteers to a win over Vanderbilt on Nov. 29, 1997. This time, his nephew leads the Longhorns (3-0) against Tennessee (3-0) in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams.
The quarterbacks will be key. Manning struggled in last week's 30-6 win over UTSA after the big comeback over then-No. 1 Ohio State. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel, a former quarterback himself, said Manning has shown really good command and control this season.
Tennessee counters with freshman Faizon Brandon who came to Knoxville rated as the nation’s No. 3 quarterback.
“This is why he came to Tennessee, just to play a team like this, and we play the best of the best,” Vols wide receiver Braylon Staley said.
Texas’ three losses in 2025 — Ohio State, Florida and Georgia — all happened on the road. The Longhorns also needed overtime to win at Kentucky and Mississippi State.
This is the Longhorns' first road trip this season and a good test of their maturity. This Texas roster came into the season with more than 2,300 career snaps than last season. Sarkisian thinks will make a difference.
“Ultimately, when Saturday comes, having great poise and composure, and executing the plan to the best of their ability (is the difference), Sarkisian said.
Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop went down in the first half of the Vols' 42-9 win over Kennesaw State with what appeared to be a hip injury. Bishop returned for a series in the third quarter before going to the sideline for the rest of the game. Heupel called Bishop’s departure cautionary.
Bishop has rushed for 286 yards and four touchdowns and is a big reason why the Vols have the nation's fourth-ranked rushing offense averaging 298.7 yards a game. If Bishop can’t play, the Vols will turn to Daune Morris, who is rushing for 78 yards a game, and Javin Gordon (39.5).
“We’ll make sure he’s fully ready to go on Saturday," Heupel said of Bishop.
Former Florida and South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp returned to Texas for the defensive coordinator job he held from 2008-2010, and he has the unit humming. Since allowing 20 points in the first half against Ohio State, the Longhorns have surrendered just three fields since.
Texas allowed just 142 total yards to UTSA and ended the Roadrunners' streak of 74 consecutive games with at least one touchdown. Texas also stopped 10 consecutive third-down plays.
Texas hit the transfer portal hard for playmakers on offense. Wide receiver Cam Coleman leads the team with four touchdowns, and running back Hollywood Smothers has scored three times.
Yet Texas is not stretching defenses with big plays after Smothers went 45 yards on the first play of the season.
Texas ranks 10th in the SEC in “explosive” plays of 20 yards or more with nine total. Part of that is on Manning, who overthrew several open receivers last week. The Longhorns will face new Tennessee defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who helped Ohio State win the national title for the 2024 season.
This will be the fourth game between two of college football’s winningest programs. Texas leads the series 2-1 with all three played in the Cotton Bowl, the last in 1969. Neyland will be packed as fans checker the stands in Tennessee orange and white. President Donald Trump also is scheduled to attend.
"Expect them to be at their best Saturday, 12 o’clock when the ball is teed up,” Heupel said.
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