Austin, TX
Behind the scenes of Arch Manning’s first start at Texas
AUSTIN, Texas — Arch Manning arrived in rather modest style.
Texas’ team buses pulled up right on schedule outside Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium at 4:40 p.m. Saturday. Manning stepped out and onto San Jacinto Boulevard in a navy suit paired with a white shirt and a brown striped tie. On his shoulders, he carried a black backpack as well as the modest weight of Texas fans’ hopes and dreams.
Unlike most Longhorn teammates, though, Manning did not wear headphones. On the team’s traditional Stadium Stampede walk into the stadium, lined with fans cheering while holding phones and horns up, the young quarterback took it all in.
“You need some time to just appreciate the opportunity,” Manning said later. “I’m blessed to be in this situation. I don’t take it for granted.”
The fifth-largest crowd in school history packed into DKR to catch a glimpse of the future of Texas football, an extended preview of how a five-star talent with a legendary pedigree will lead this program a year from now.
What those 102,850 folks witnessed during No. 1 Texas’ 51-3 blowout of UL Monroe on Saturday night was a bit more reasonable than their wildest expectations. Manning’s performance in his first college start reminded everyone he’s right on schedule, right where he’s supposed to be in his developmental process.
The redshirt freshman played a lot like a redshirt freshman: Great and not great, with a healthy mix of highlights plays and helpful lessons. He gave himself a C+ grade for the night after completing 15 of 29 passes for 258 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Manning may have the potential for greatness in Steve Sarkisian’s offense, but he has still only played in five college games. Six and a half hours after he first arrived at the stadium, he was feeling the difference.
“The games feel long when you’re in there for the majority of it,” Manning joked. “They’re a lot longer than high school. That was most surprising.”
The Longhorns losing starting QB Quinn Ewers to an oblique injury last week against UTSA opened the door for Manning to wow the college football world. He came in cold off the bench, delivered five touchdowns and made everything look a little too easy. It was a stunning display from a kid with 11 career pass attempts at the college level, a backup with a ton of fame but not much film.
For a week, Manning got to be QB1 while Ewers focused on getting healthy. The sharp uptick in Longhorn fans donning Manning’s No. 16 jersey was easy to spot around campus on Saturday afternoon. Inside the stadium team shop, authentic Ewers and Manning jerseys were going for $149.99. There were plenty of Ewers jerseys on the rack three hours before kickoff, but the Manning threads were long gone. The shop produced another run of his jerseys this week in anticipation of demand, but they went fast.
Brian and Jessica McCreary both donned No. 16 jerseys as they awaited the team’s arrival on Bevo Boulevard. They bought theirs last year. They have Ewers jerseys at home, too. The husband and wife were eager to see more from Manning, but Brian sees the big picture as clearly as Texas’ head coach.
“If you know football,” he said, “you know Quinn is our quarterback.”
Ewers didn’t enjoy missing a game but stayed upbeat on Texas’ sideline. The 25-game starter, wearing his No. 3 jersey over a jacket, had an earpiece in his left ear to hear playcalls and chatted with Manning throughout. But the assignment for the night wasn’t to coach him up. Ewers needed to get Manning to relax.
“We talked about him doing his best to keep it light with Arch,” Sarkisian said. “Because when Arch keeps it light, he’s really, really good. We try to not let him get too, too focused.”
Manning needed that encouragement early. His opening drive ended abruptly when he forced a throw under pressure on second-and-4 that was picked off. He knew he should’ve thrown it away. Rookie mistake. On the bench, left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. and center Jake Majors talked him down.
“It’s gonna happen, bro,” Banks said he told him. “Keep pushing.”
“Just keep being you,” Majors said.
“He holds himself to a high standard, which is good,” Banks said afterward, “so he definitely can have his moments where he gets real hard on himself.”
Sarkisian demands that next-play mentality to operate his system. The message in the week leading up to Manning’s first start: Don’t overanalyze, just execute. The game plan called for deep shots on ULM’s secondary. Manning hit quite a few, picking up 210 of his passing yards on eight completions.
The tradeoff? “When you get in that mode, sometimes you can start to get a little bit greedy,” Sarkisian said. Ask Manning what throws he’d like back and he can think of a few overthrows and underthrows in the second half that could’ve been checkdowns to easier completions.
“He was going to have some lessons learned,” Sarkisian said, “and I think that’s what tonight was about.”
It was never going to be about a quarterback controversy. Sarkisian made sure to set the record straight on Thursday. It’s not just that Ewers is his quarterback. He foresees Ewers leading a national title run, going to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony and proving he’s a top-five draft pick. All of those goals are still on the table.
You won’t hear many head coaches publicly put that out there, but it speaks to Sarkisian’s confidence. Colt McCoy, back in town to be inducted into the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor, has lived with those expectations.
The last quarterback to lead Texas to a national title game sees greatness in both. McCoy knows Manning getting these reps will ultimately be beneficial for the entire team over the long haul of a 12-team College Football Playoff and the deep run this team is trying to make. And the Longhorn legend knows better than anyone what it takes to carry that weight.
“There’s a lot of pressure playing quarterback at the University of Texas, there’s a lot of expectations, everything that goes along with sort of being the guy,” McCoy said. “For them, I would just say you have a wonderful team around you.
“I mean, this team is built to win a championship. Just go out there and execute and stay focused and lean on each other.”
For the first time since 2022, Texas volleyball will enter the NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 seed.
The NCAA Tournament’s selection committee released its field of 64 Sunday, and Texas (23-3) received one of the coveted top-four seeds, which means the Longhorns won’t leave Austin until a possible trip to the Final Four Dec. 18-21 in Kansas City, Mo.
Texas, the No. 3 overall seed, will open the tournament Friday at 7 p.m. against Florida A&M at Gregory Gymnasium on the Longhorns’ campus. With a win, the Longhorns would face either No. 8 seed and defending national champion Penn State or South Florida this weekend in a second-round contest.
If Texas wins both its games this upcoming week, the Longhorns could face No. 4 Indiana, No. 3 Wisconsin or No. 2 Stanford in the regional tournament. Those programs are the other top-four teams in the Longhorns’ Austin Quadrant.
The NCAA will release its full tournament schedule later Sunday.
The NCAA volleyball tournament is structured like college basketball’s postseason tournament and features 64 teams, including 31 automatic qualifiers and 33 at-large selections. The selection committee seeded the top 32 teams with the top 16 identified in rank order.
Top-ranked Nebraska, the nation’s only unbeaten team, is the No. 1 overall seed while SEC champion Kentucky is the No. 2 seed. Pittsburgh earned the final No. 1 seed and the fourth overall seed.
Last Updated On – 30th November, 2025
Jump To: Affordable | Traditional | Modern & Trendy
Pho Austin lovers know that the city’s Vietnamese food scene continues to grow fast — and pho is one of the biggest standouts. Whether you’re craving a deep, traditional broth or a modern, creative take on the classic soup, Austin has something for every pho fan.
Below are the 10 best pho restaurants in Austin for 2025, organized into helpful categories so you can instantly find the perfect bowl.
Warm up with a bowl of pho, then keep the day going with something fun. Check out the latest Things To Do in Austin This Weekend to find concerts, pop-ups, and seasonal happenings around the city.
Editor’s Note: Our staff works hard to bring you the latest information. However, all information mentioned in this article is subject to change. As always, please confirm before heading out.
Also, check out our articles on Chinese Food Austin, Vietnamese Food in Austin, and Best Sushi Restaurants Austin.
Affordable Pho Austin
The One Pho
Image credit: The One Pho
The One Pho is a favorite Vietnamese spot in Austin, known for its extensive menu that includes classic noodle soups and innovative Asian fusion dishes. Locals often praise their signature Wagyu Beef Hot Stone Pho, where the broth is poured tableside over fresh ingredients in a piping hot stone bowl.
Where: 10721 Research Blvd b110, Austin, TX 78759
Operating Hours: Thursday CLOSED | Friday – Wednesday 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Pho Van
Pho Van is a highly-rated, no-frills Vietnamese restaurant in Austin, known for serving authentic dishes like flavorful pho, fresh spring rolls, and banh mi. Many regulars consider their broken rice plates, such as the grilled chicken or pork, to be an excellent alternative to the namesake soup.
Where: 8557 Research Blvd #120, Austin, TX 78758
Operating Hours: Daily 10:30 am – 9:00 pm
Tan My Restaurant
Tan My Restaurant is widely celebrated as one of Austin’s best for authentic Vietnamese cuisine, famous for its rich, aromatic broth that elevates their signature noodle soups. For an especially satisfying meal, be sure to try the Pho Dac Biet, a combination pho that features a generous variety of meats.
Where: 1601 Ohlen Rd # E, Austin, TX 78758
Operating Hours: Sunday CLOSED | Monday – Saturday 10:00 am – 8:30 pm
888 Pan Asian Restaurant
Image credit: 888 Pan Asian Restaurant
888 Pan Asian Restaurant is a popular pho Austin spot known for its vast menu of well-priced, generously portioned Vietnamese, Thai, and Chinese dishes. Patrons especially praise the flavorful pho broth, and the crispy spring rolls are a highly recommended appetizer to start your meal.
Where: 2400 E Oltorf St #1A, Austin, TX 78741
Operating Hours: Sunday 12:00 pm – 9:45 pm | Monday – Saturday 12:00 pm – 10:45 pm
Once you’ve finished your pho adventure, explore what else Austin has brewing. Browse our guide to Things To Do in Austin This Weekend for festivals, outdoor fun, and can’t-miss local events.
Best Traditional Pho in Austin
Pho Saigon Noodle House
A long-loved staple of South Austin, Pho Saigon delivers a deep, rich broth and the classic herb-forward flavor that makes traditional pho irresistible. Its consistency and generous portions make it one of the city’s most reliable pho spots.
Where: 10901 N Lamar Blvd A108, Austin, TX 78753
Operating Hours: Sunday – Thursday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm | Friday – Saturday 10:00 am – 8:30 pm
Pho Dan
North Austin residents swear by Pho Dan. The broth here is clean and comforting, and the bowls come packed with noodles and meats. It’s a great everyday pho spot, especially for those who love straightforward, authentic flavors.
Where: 11220 N Lamar Blvd B-200, Austin, TX 78753
Operating Hours: Daily 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Pho Phong Luu
Image credit: Phở Phong Lưu
Known for bold, aromatic broth and generous toppings, Pho Phong Luu offers classic Vietnamese flavors done right. It’s a go-to for long-time Austin residents seeking a consistently satisfying bowl.
Where: 11800 Dessau Rd Suite 302, Austin, TX 78754
Operating Hours: Wednesday – Thursday CLOSED | Friday 10:00 am – 2:30 pm & 4:30 pm – 8:00 pm | Saturday – Sunday 10:00 am – 2:30 pm | Monday – Tuesday 10:00 am – 2:30 pm & 4:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Best Modern & Trendy Pho Spots in Austin
Sip Pho
Image credit: Sip Pho
Sip Pho brings a modern, fresh aesthetic to the pho Austin scene. Expect beautifully plated bowls with a focus on clean flavors, perfect for diners who appreciate high-quality ingredients in a contemporary setting.
Where: 512 W 29th St, Austin, TX 78705
Operating Hours: Daily 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Pho Please
Pho Please is one of the most popular modern Vietnamese spots in Austin. It has a bright, trendy atmosphere, fast service, and a broth that’s light yet incredibly flavorful. A reliable pick for young professionals and students.
Where: 1920 E Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78741
Operating Hours: Daily 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
1618 Asian Fusion
While 1618 Asian Fusion isn’t strictly a pho restaurant, its version of the dish has earned a dedicated following. The flavors are balanced and the portions generous, making it ideal for mixed groups craving different Asian dishes.
Where: 1618 E Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78741
Operating Hours: Sunday – Thursday 10:00 am – 9:30 pm | Friday – Saturday 10:00 am – 10:30 pm
Craving more ways to enjoy the city after your pho stop? Dive into our updated roundup of Things To Do in Austin This Weekend and discover what’s happening across Austin right now.
Lacey is a freelancer and Austin local who’s always on the hunt for new restaurants to try, fun activities to do, and local events to attend. She loves sharing her discoveries with others through her writing and hopes her work encourages both visitors and locals to be active in the community. When she’s not writing, you can find her exploring one of the city’s many hiking trails with her Blue Heeler, Oreo, getting lost in a good book, or dancing the night away to some house or techno beats at one of her favorite rave spots.
AUSTIN, Texas — Austin police are investigating a shooting that happened early Friday morning after an altercation in front of a north Austin night club.
Police say that the shooting happened just after 1 a.m. Friday morning in the parking lot at the Rodeo Night Club at 9515 N. Lamar Blvd.
APD says that a man in his 20s was taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds.
ALSO | Lawyer: 19-year-old student detained, deported before flight to Austin for Thanksgiving
The injuries were first reported as critical, but the victim was later determined to be in stable condition, according to police.
Two suspects were detained at the scene, police say, and the incident is being investigated as an aggravated assault.
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