'Philly Special' trick play gives Texas QB Arch Manning rare hat trick

In Saturday's 52-37 win over rival Arkansas, Texas quarterback Arch Manning scored a touchdown passing, rushing and receiving. He became the first QB in the long history of the Longhorns to accomplish that feat in one game. Nobody had that on their bingo card.

Manning had his best day as a college quarterback. He looked every bit the super star he was projected to be at the beginning of the year. But after not playing week in and week out for a couple of years, Manning needed some time to get used to college football. He had to acclimate to the speed and to the coverage and to the attention.

Now, it looks like everything has clicked. Of course, Arkansas defense has struggled all year. But the Manning we saw today would have excelled against almost any defense in the nation.

Manning threw for 389 yards on 18 completions in 30 attempts. He rushed for a three-yard TD in the third quarter. He threw four touchdowns, three to DeAndre Moore Jr. and one to Parker Livingstone. But his roommate returned the favor.

Late in the first quarter on second and goal from the Arkansas four yard line, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian called a trick play. He called a version of the 'Philly Special.'

Wide receiver Ryan Wingo was out wide and went into motion back towards Manning. As Manning snapped the ball, he pitched the ball to an already moving Wingo who them pitched to Livingstone running the opposite way. Meanwhile, Manning was sprinting towards the endzone. Livingstone passed it to Manning for a wide open touchdown.

Livingstone's pass wasn't perfect, but at 6-foot-4, Manning was able to corral the high throw. "He threw it well on Thursday," Manning said after the game. "But he's bailed me out a few times so I had to bail him out. It was kind of sunny. I lost it for a second."

Manning said the offense was happy the play finally got called. "That play's been in for a while now," he said. "We were excited to call it."

After the play, Vince Young was in that endzone and "bowed" to Manning as he ran back to the Texas bench. "It's cool to have Vince around," Manning said. "He was at the hotel last night. He's always encouraging us. I reach out to him for advice. He's just a really good guy."

Sark said he had a moment with VY after Manning's TD reception as well. "When he caught the touchdown, I turned around and Vince Young was high fiving me and said 'man, I wish I would have had that play call when I was going to school,'" Sarkisian said. "I would call more stuff for you if you were out there! Just trying to play to the guy's strengths."

Follow us on X/Twitter at @LonghornsWire.

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Trick play makes Arch Manning first Texas QB with pass, run, catch TDs