Arch Manning explains his traffic incident with the police and makes a promise

Arch Manning's week in Austin started behind the wheel of his Denali and ended under the stadium lights with more than 320 passing yards.

The Texas Longhorns quarterback, who has been under intense public scrutiny since stepping onto campus, found himself trending for something other than football - a traffic stop that became an instant viral moment.

Photos circulated online showing Manning being pulled over by an Austin Police Department officer, sparking a wave of speculation across social media. Was it real? Was he in trouble?

The 20-year-old quarterback confirmed the rumors after leading Texas to a narrow 34-31 win over Vanderbilt. And yes, the photo was real, but the story was far less dramatic than fans imagined.

Manning explained that he was stopped for rolling through a red light at a pedestrian crosswalk, thinking no one was around. "It was a crosswalk, and it was a solid red, and no one was around, and I went," Manning said afterward. "I guess someone was around."

The quarterback also admitted it was his first time being pulled over in Austin and that he had forgotten his wallet, and therefore, his driver's license, at home. "It was a little weird," he said with a laugh. "Didn't help that I didn't have my license on me."

From traffic stop to touchdown throws

Fortunately for Manning, the encounter ended with only a warning from local police, not a ticket. The incident could have easily turned into an embarrassing distraction, but instead, it became another quirky chapter in the life of college football's most recognizable young quarterback.

Within days, he silenced the noise in the best way possible by carving up Vanderbilt's defense.

Fresh off concussion protocol after a tough hit two weeks earlier against Mississippi State, Manning looked poised and efficient, completing 25 of 33 passes for 328 yards and three touchdowns.

His command of the Texas offense earned praise from head coach Steve Sarkisian, who highlighted Manning's improved decision-making and confidence in the pocket. The win also kept Texas in the hunt for a Big 12 Championship berth, making the lighthearted traffic story fade into the background.

Still, the viral moment served as a reminder that even the most high-profile athletes live normal lives complete with the occasional traffic mistake.

Manning handled the situation with humility and humor, turning an awkward stop at a red light into a story that humanized college football's most famous last name. In the end, Manning proved that while he might roll through a red light now and then, he's not slowing down anytime soon.