Texas Longhorns Head coach Steve Sarkisian unleashed quarterback Arch Manning in certain packages against the Texas A&M Aggies. Manning particularly shined in this game with his quarterback run look.

These were looks that Texas hadn’t shown as much earlier in the season. However, as Sarkisian explained in his press conference before the SEC Championship Game, the way Manning has improved over the course of the season has led to him getting more opportunities in specialty lineups.

“I think part of it is really a stroke of luck and I think Arch was lucky to get so much experience at the start of the season Quinn (Ewers) was injured,” Steve Sarkisian said. “He really has two and a half games under his belt. Two starts. He started the first game we played in the SEC Mississippi State. I think all of those things gave him confidence, but also gave us confidence in him.”

Arch Manning didn’t throw a pass in the win over Texas A&M. However, he carried the ball three times for 14 yards and had a rushing touchdown. That’s after he threw for 939 yards and nine touchdowns in the playing time he earned over the course of the season. For the season, Manning also rushed for 95 yards and four touchdowns.

“He continues to prepare at a really high level. Over the course of a season, you inevitably have to keep a few things in mind at times. That’s how it works,” Sarkisian said.

The Longhorns will take that on Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Game. The first time these two teams met, the Bulldogs won 30-15, largely due to a strong first-half performance. At some point in that game, Steve Sarkisian benched Quinn Ewers for Arch Manning to give Ewers a chance to reset. It also gave Manning experience against Georgia.

In the game against Georgia, Arch Manning completed three of six passes for 19 yards.

A win in the SEC Championship Game means a bye in the first round College Football Playoffs for the winner. The other is expected to host in the first round but has had less free time than its opponent. So there’s a lot of work to do for both sides heading into the SEC Championship Game, and Sarkisian will likely have something new to deal with for the Georgia defense in this game.