No. 1 Texas will start Arch Manning at quarterback today against Louisiana-Monroe while regular starter Quinn Ewers continues to recover from a strained muscle in his abdomen, coach Steve Sarkisian said.

It will be the first career start for Manning, a second year freshman. He relieved Ewers in the second quarter last week against UTSA and passed for four touchdowns and ran for another in a 56-7 Texas victory.

Manning is the son of Cooper Manning, the grandson of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning, and the nephew of Super Bowl-winning QBs Peyton and Eli Manning.

The Longhorns are No. 1 for the first time since 2008 and today’s matchup with the Warhawks is Texas’ last game before the program starts its first SEC schedule against Mississippi State on Sept. 28.

GATORS MINUS TOP RECEIVER >> Florida will be without leading receiver Eugene Wilson III against Mississippi State today — and probably longer.

Wilson had minor knee surgery this week, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Thursday. The person said Wilson’s setback is not considered a season-ending injury.

The Gators (1-2, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) ruled Wilson out Wednesday night.

Week 1 starter Kahleil Jackson (knee) is out for the season, and Florida won’t have senior Ja’Quavion Fraziars for the fourth consecutive game.

A sophomore from Tampa, Wilson has a team-leading 13 receptions for 191 yards and a touchdown in two games.

He injured a knee in a 45-7 victory against Samford two weeks ago and was a game-time decision against Texas A&M. He warmed up before the game and then wasn’t in uniform when the Gators came out of the locker room for kickoff. The Gators lost 33-20.

AUBURN’S BROWN ON THE RISE >> Trent Dilfer was hardly surprised when his old quarterback, Hank Brown, made a mostly pristine starting debut for Auburn.

The former NFL quarterback feels it’s one of Brown’s greatest assets: The poise to weigh risk versus reward and avoid costly mistakes.

“He’s never going to make it worse,” the current UAB head coach said.

After a strong debut against New Mexico, Brown is set to make his second college start today at home against Arkansas in the SEC opener for both teams. He beat out more heralded candidates to enter the season as Payton Thorne’s top backup, and claimed the starting job after Thorne was intercepted four times in a loss to California.

Brown was 17-of-25 passing for 235 yards with four touchdowns spread among four different receivers.

Brown took a roundabout path to Auburn and the SEC. He led Dilfer’s Lipscomb Academy team in Nashville, Tennessee, to the D2-AA state title and a 13-0 record in 2022.

Brown planned to play at Liberty for coach Hugh Freeze, who had been recruiting him much of his high school career. Then Freeze left for Auburn and Brown followed after considering joining Dilfer at UAB.