Arch Manning is a "different'' guy.
Or, as it relates to the way the QB of the No. 10-ranked Texas Longhorns is capable of playing this weekend against the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia ...
He sure hopes so.
The Longhorns have put together a four-game winning streak to jump to 7-2, but now comes a new level of test.
This will mark the first time that Manning plays against Georgia as Texas’ full-time starter. ... and that is the area in which he pledges to be "different.''
“I think I'm a way different player from last year,” Manning said this week as the Longhorns prepped for the showdown. "Definitely been watching the tape, will continue to watch it, and just try to get a better feel for these guys.”
The Longhorns opened the season as the No. 1-ranked team in the nation but lost at Ohio State. And there have been some ups and downs since then ... all of which is part of the maturation process for young guys like Manning, 21.
“We're going to fight to the end,” Manning said of the things UT has learned about itself during this process. “Just got to continue to get better, and stay connected.”
The Bulldogs will offer an assortment of challenges here, including a vaunted defense that has held its opponents to an average of 19.8 points and 310.8 yards per game.
Said Manning in an understatement: “They've had a lot of success the past few years.''
Part of the Longhorns' march back into contention includes wins over Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl, as well as victories over Kentucky, Mississippi State, and No. 9 Vanderbilt.
Meanwhile ...
The Bulldogs come into thus outing with an 8-1 record, with their only defeat coming in a 24-21 loss to the traditionally powerful Alabama Crimson Tide in Week 5.
Since then, they have since won the rest of their games by an average of 12.6 points.
Will Arch and the offense be up to the task in this matchup, which is slated to kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday on ABC?
“I'm confident in my guys,'' he said. "I’m 10 toes down with them the whole way.''