Two quarterbacks. Two stories, and two distinct spotlights. For Week 10, Vanderbilt will travel to Austin to face Texas. Arch Manning and Diego Pavia found themselves on the same radar. But their playing field hasn’t always been equal, has it?

For the Longhorns QB, much to the delight of the ‘Hook Em’ fandom, his preseason launchpad already created a buzz. Backed with Manning’s legacy and Texas’s No. 1 preseason ranking, college football jumped on his hype train. On the other hand, the Commodores QB broke out onto the college football scene after defeating Bama and a 7-6 record for a program that had merely two wins in the 2023 campaign. All this while he was simultaneously fighting his eligibility. Now? Pavia, known for his swagger, has his bucket list all ready. SEC title game, playoffs, Heisman Trophy, and beyond.

But over the weeks, if we compare the numbers, both QBs have logged similar numbers, meaning that both of them are in the same ballpark. Arch Manning has registered 1,795 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, and six interceptions over the course of the season. Similarly, Pavia’s numbers amount to 1,698 passing yards, 15 pass TDs, and five interceptions. But only one of them has entered the top Heisman candidate conversation, and it’s not the Manning legacy. However, there’s a reason.

For Texas QB, yes and nays about his abilities dominated most of the pre-season conversation, tagging him the No. 1 Heisman pick. Paul Finebaum even went on to declare the 21-year-old as the next Tim Tebow. Bottom line: Much was expected of him, too much from a first-year starter, who was still finding his footing in the brutal SEC environment. But his inconsistent, lopsided performance quickly shut down those conversations. Losses against Florida and OSU, but his biggest win came against Oklahoma during the Red River Rivalry. Presently, Manning has a 141.0 rating.

Meanwhile, Diego Pavia has received a 159.0 on his report card, following a biting loss against Alabama —the same team that propelled him into the national conversation last year. But another metric tells a different tale regarding their performance.

With Manning’s six rushing TDs and Pavia’s five on a similar bandwidth, their rushing yards drastically differ. While the Texas QB has registered less than 200 yards through the season, the Vandy QB has rushed for 458 yards, making him an elite dual-threat QB. Although both QBs have chipped in similar numbers. Their offensive weapons have also played a role in their performance.

Steve Sarkisian’s shaky offensive line has become apparent throughout the season. One of Arch Manning’s criticisms centered on his holding the ball too long. Against Florida, he took 3.5 seconds to throw the ball, with his average throwing time listed as the third-slowest rate by any FBS QB. With an O-line that easily crumbled under pressure, the Gators posted a 58% pressure rate on the QB. So, over eight games, the 21-year-old was sacked 18 times. David Pollack further went on to say, “Let’s be honest, the line’s not great. The running back spot’s not great. Tight end’s not great. Receivers’ not great.”

Against Mississippi State alone, he recorded five sacks, his second-most in the season after Florida. Within 10 minutes into the game, he had his first sack in 3rd & 9 for negative 10 yards. On the other hand, Diego Pavia’s offensive weapons and O-line have held strong under pressure. With a strong pocket, he is able to scan the field and deliver deep throws down the field. Even Sarkisian has praised his offense.

“One, it’s his ability to find the big receiver, the tight end [Eli Stowers], and they are very creative getting him the ball,” Sarkisian said per KXAN.com. “Two, the triple option aspect of their offense, and his decision making.” Remember Makhilyn Young’s 80-yard run against Missouri? Texas HC continues. “Three, the direct quarterback run game that they use. And four, the ad-lib plays that he makes. He’s very good at those.” Again, in the last quarter, it was a tie, 10-10. Pushing for a late lead in the last two minutes, Pavia scrambled for a one-yard TD rush into the endzone, securing the 17-10 win.

But maybe tomorrow, Austin won’t witness the Arch Manning vs Diego Pavia matchup.

Will Arch Manning start against Vanderbilt?

Presently, there is uncertainty regarding Arch Manning’s presence at the Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium. Last weekend, he suffered a concussion against Mississippi State. On a 13-yard rush scramble, Arch hit his head on the ground as he dived forward, and was taken to the medical tent.

Following a concussion protocol, he is listed as questionable under the latest SEC Availability report. Although Steve Sarkisian shared that he was “making good progress,” Arch’s appearance is still not confirmed. With the Pavia threat looming ahead, the Texas HC is cautious. “You have to do a good job setting your edges, or else he can get on the perimeter quick,” he added.

Texas has its challenges on the offense, but the defensive unit is robust. Ranked No. 3, it has recorded 559 total tackles, 43 tackles for loss, and 28 sacks. On the other hand, Vanderbilt’s defense ranks No. 7th rank on the chart, with 21 sacks, 481 tackles, and 39 tackles for loss.