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Texas Announces Encouraging Update On Arch Manning's Status

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Oct 29, 2025 4:22 PM ET

The Texas Longhorns face a make-or-break home game against No. 9 Vanderbilt this weekend and they may be facing some uncertainty at QB heading into Saturday in Austin.

Texas starting QB Arch Manning suffered a concussion in the team's thrilling comeback win over Mississippi State this past weekend. Since the announcement, there have been concerns that he simply won't be fit to play on Saturday.

But Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian had a somewhat promising update today. Speaking to the media, he announced that Manning did, in fact, practice with the team on Wednesday. However, Manning has not yet full cleared the mandated concussion protocol, so his status for Saturday is still up in the air.

"#Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian says QB Arch Manning and DB Michael Taaffe both practiced Wednesday. Manning still has to fully clear protocol. Taaffe has been on the field the last two days," CJ Vogel of On Texas Football wrote on X.

#Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian says QB Arch Manning and DB Michael Taaffe both practiced Wednesday.

Manning still has to fully clear protocol.

Taaffe has been on the field the last two days.

More: https://t.co/jKdqSyH6SJ pic.twitter.com/Wkif2mI50Q
— CJ Vogel (@CJVogel_OTF) October 29, 2025

Will he play? Should he play?

If Manning is already practicing off of a concussion then it seems to bode well for his availability this weekend. That being said, fans don't seem convinced that Manning should rush back from this concussion for a litany of reasons.

Between Texas' recent offensive line struggles and an impending matchup against Vanderbilt's notoriously stout defense, fans are openly wondering if the team might be better off deploying backup Matthew Caldwell to give Manning more time to heal up and potentially surprise the Commodores with an unknown quantity at QB:

"With this OLine, why risk arch? He’s going to get hit at least 12 times guaranteed. We’ve seen how concussions have affected one of Sark’s former QBs. Why repeat history?" one user asked.

"If I'm Vandy, I absolutely want arch to play. You know what your getting with him," another pointed out.

"Nooooo I want to see Caldwell," a third wrote.

"Taaffe is the bigger need IMHO."

Oct 4, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) runs with the ball against the Florida Gators during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Saturday's win over Mississippi State marked Texas' highest scoring output against a power conference team this season. After being written off as a lost cause earlier this month following their loss to struggling Florida, the team has rebounded with three straight wins.

Texas dominated arch-rival Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry and followed that up with a pair of overtime wins over Kentucky and Mississippi to put them at No. 20 in the country.

But Vanderbilt is surging as they enjoy their highest AP ranking since 1937. They have convincing wins over South Carolina, LSU and Missouri under their belts and have given Alabama arguably the toughest fight of any team to go into Tuscaloosa in the last several years.

That being said, Vanderbilt haven't beaten Texas in Texas since before The Great Depression. Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium will be entirely new ground for them.

Who do you have winning the Vanderbilt-Texas game?

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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