Arch Manning escapes penalty after end-zone taunt as Texas routs Sam Houston 55-0
No. 8 Texas quarterback Arch Manning threw three touchdowns and ran for two more, but online reaction focused on a taunting celebration that drew no flag.
Texas quarterback Arch Manning, a redshirt sophomore and nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, threw three touchdown passes and ran for two more as No. 8 Texas routed winless Sam Houston 55-0 in Austin on Saturday.
After spinning out of Antavious Fish's tackle on a first-quarter touchdown run, Manning punctuated the score by flexing over the Bearkats linebacker as he tried to get to his feet. Officials hurried to separate the players, and one referee spoke to Manning as he returned to the Longhorns' sideline. Manning was not penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Reactions online were swift, with fans weighing in on the taunt. On X, some argued that a different player would have been flagged, while others mocked the moment given Sam Houston's winless status and the context of a schedule built around buy games. One user wrote, 'If his name wasn't Arch Manning he'd have been flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct,' and others followed with comments about whether the celebration carried significance against a team from the Football Championship Subdivision after a Week 1 loss to Ohio State.
Sam Houston received a reported $1.5 million to play Texas in what college football commonly calls a buy game. Texas opened the season with Ohio State in Columbus and then played three straight buy games, outscoring those opponents 120-17 to move to 3-1 heading into a bye week. The Longhorns are set to return to the field after the break, facing Florida on Oct. 4 and renewing the Red River Rivalry with Oklahoma on Oct. 11.
The night’s result fit into a broader narrative surrounding Manning and Texas, with analysts and fans watching how the quarterback's skill set translates to a roster that has leaned on a slate of nonconference games to bolster its record. Manning’s performance in this contest added to a developing storyline about his readiness for high-profile opponents and the expectations that come with being part of the Manning family legacy. While the taunt drew attention online, the on-field production—three passing touchdowns and two rushing scores—helped anchor Texas' dominant win and provided a relatively clean game from a performance standpoint as the team looks ahead to a tougher slate.