AUSTIN, Texas – Suddenly the No. 1 Texas Longhorns have a potential quarterback controversy in the wake of a disastrous first half against the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, trailing 23-0 at halftime thanks to three turnovers and only 38 total yards.

Texas redshirt junior quarterback Quinn Ewers, starting his second straight game after returning from an oblique strain that caused him to miss two starts, again struggled to start the game, going 6-of-12 passing for 17 yards with an interception and a fumble. on a cornerback blitz.

“I was trying to calm Quinn down a little bit, give us a little bit of a spark,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian told ABC at halftime.

Redshirt freshman Arch Manning entered the game with 4:43 remaining in the second quarter, with the Longhorns trailing 20-0 after a third three and out led to a Bulldogs field goal. Quickly pressed, Manning was forced to throw the ball away on his first snap as Georgia continued to outplay Texas’ veteran offensive line.

Manning’s athleticism did make a difference on a 21-yard scramble on his second drive, but he missed an open receiver to end his first drive and fumbled late in the half after taking his second straight sack, leading to a field goal in Georgia and the final deficit.

Manning finished the half 3-of-6 passing for 19 yards and Ewers was back on the field at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium to start the second half.