Texas beats UTSA 30-6 but Manning struggles amid distractions

Top-ranked Texas defeated UTSA 30-6 on Saturday night in Austin, improving to 3-0, but the victory was overshadowed by a uneven performance from quarterback Arch Manning. Manning threw two first-half touchdown passes to Cam Coleman but struggled for much of the game, finishing with 164 passing yards on 17-of-33 passing. He missed open receivers and took several hard hits before leaving the game in the fourth quarter. The Texas defense dominated, allowing only 143 total yards and keeping the Roadrunners out of the end zone. Gianni Spetic kicked three field goals, and freshman Derrick Cooper scored a late touchdown. UTSA was penalized 12 times for 119 yards. Head coach Steve Sarkisian attributed Manning's difficulties to distractions from the previous week's controversy involving ESPN reporter Holly Rowe. Manning had been criticized for laughing at an AI-generated video falsely showing Sarkisian making violent contact with Rowe during a media appearance. Manning later apologized to Rowe. "I think he'll get back on. It was a long week for him too, understandably. A lot of distractions that way, and the stuff he had to deal with," Sarkisian said after the game.