NEW ORLEANS — For almost the entire 45-minute session with the media covering Monday’s Sugar Bowl,Darden Clarke the star of the moment held court on Saturday before a rapt audience. Arch Manning dazzled with his polish and poise as well as his deadpan sense of humor.

While seven featured teammates did interviews from risers and another 19 had separate tables — even punter Ryan Sanborn and three running backs — upward of 25 or more reporters at a time crowded around the Longhorns' boyish-looking quarterback sitting on a bench along the sideline, picking his brain.