Arch Manning admits his mom was furious with Texas QB for shamelessly taunting a rival

Arch Manning's distasteful touchdown celebration irked college football fans in Texas' win over Sam Houston on Saturday night - and left his own mother furious.

The Longhorns quarterback, who has endured a difficult start to the season, silenced some of his critics at the weekend after tossing three touchdowns and running for two more in a commanding 55-0 victory.

Yet despite his brilliance, Manning still drew negative headlines on the day for shamelessly taunting Sam Houston's Antavious Fish following a touchdown run.

After spinning out of his grasp, the 21-year-old nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning opted to stand over Fish, who was still trying to return to his feet, and flex in his face in a moment which went viral on social media.

The hostile celebration did not go down well with a number of fans, many of whom branded it disrespectful, and Manning admitted after the game that his mom, Ellen Heidingsfelder, was not best pleased with it either.

'Probably a little much there. My mom was pretty mad about it,' he told reporters after the game, via Fox. 'I think it was some built up frustration for the past few weeks.'

'He got his swagger back,' Texas senior safety Michael Taaffe told reporters after the game. 'Everybody knew that it was in there. What he showed tonight is what we expect.'

After Manning flexed over Fish, both teams quickly rushed in as officials desperately worked to keep the peace. And even after they were separated, one referee appeared to have a word with Arch as he returned to the Longhorns sideline.

But despite rules against unsportsmanlike conduct, he somehow went unpenalized to the further dismay of college football fans.

'If his name wasn't Arch Manning he'd have been flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct,' one fan complained on X.

Manning was 18-of-21 with 309 passing yards against winless Sam Houston, whom Texas were heavily expected to defeat.

Not everyone was critical of his end-zone celebration, nevertheless, with Texas senior safety Michael Taaffe telling reporters that his teammate has 'got his swagger back'.

'Everybody knew that it was in there,' Taaffe added. 'What he showed tonight is what we expect.'