As Texas fans anxiously wait to hear whether or not quarterback Arch Manning will play on Saturday as the No. 20 Longhorns face the No. 9 Vanderbilt Commodores, the team provided a somewhat promising update.
On Wednesday, just four days into Manning's journey through the concussion protocol, head coach Steve Sarkisian shared that the quarterback had practiced with the team earlier that day. However, based on the team's step-by-step concussion protocol, Manning's game-time status was still up in the air.
When Sarkisian first announced Manning had suffered a concussion last Saturday during the Horns' comeback win over Mississippi State, reporters dug up the concussion safety protocol checklist, which features a six-step process for players to return to full health.
Texas Longhorns concussion protocol
- Symptom-limited activities of daily living
- Aerobic exercise with light resistance training as tolerated (no more than mild/brief exacerbation of symptoms)
- Individual, sport-specific exercise and activity without any risk of inadvertent head-impact exposure
- Non-contact practice with progressive resistance training
- Unrestricted practice or training
- Unrestricted return-to-sport
Based on the number of days that had passed since Manning suffered the concussion, the Texas quarterback was likely on step four of the concussion protocol, with just three days until the Longhorns took the field against the Commodores.
Here is the concussion protocol checklist that Arch Manning needs to clear, it's a 6 step checklist that typically takes a day to clear each step
— Nash (@NashTalksTexas) October 27, 2025
If symptoms return, he must revert to the previous step
He would need to have a non-contact practice by Thursday at the latest https://t.co/mxjdKzoV0y pic.twitter.com/6NW7xGHj6s
So, while it may sound like everything is on track for Manning to return by Saturday, he still has a couple of steps remaining in the protocol before his status is cemented for game day.
Arch Manning and others return to practice
Manning wasn't the only Longhorn to return to the practice field on Wednesday. Sarkisian shared that veteran linebacker and undeniable leader Michael Taaffe also returned to practice after undergoing surgery on his thumb ahead of Texas's game against Mississippi State.
#Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian says QB Arch Manning and DB Michael Taaffe both practiced Wednesday.
— CJ Vogel (@CJVogel_OTF) October 29, 2025
Manning still has to fully clear protocol.
Taaffe has been on the field the last two days.
More: https://t.co/jKdqSyH6SJ pic.twitter.com/Wkif2mI50Q
When news first broke of Taaffe's procedure, it was expected that he would miss multiple weeks, but his rapid return to practice is a great sign for the veteran Longhorn.
This weekend, No. 20 Texas and No. 9 Vanderbilt are scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast on ABC. Before game time, SEC Nation will be in Austin, hyping up the crowd and focusing the weekly SEC Network show on the Longhorns and Commodores matchup.