Quinn Ewers will start at quarterback for the College Football Playoff semifinal-rival Texas Longhorns as they prepare to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes. Head coach Steve Sarkisian keeps putting his faith in the seasoned Ewers, even though everyone is talking about Arch Manning, the acclaimed freshman and the heir apparent to football royalty.
Ewers has guided the Longhorns to a 12-2 record this season; he is now in his third year at the helm as starting quarterback. He has thrown for 3,189 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in his career. An intriguing wrinkle to this quarterfinal matchup is that Ewers started his college career at Ohio State before transferring to Texas.
The nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, two NFL greats, Manning has had moments of brilliance in his few appearances. With nine touchdowns, 939 yards passing, and two interceptions in nine games this season, his completion percentage is 67.8 percent. On the ground, he has shown mobility by rushing for 100 yards and four touchdowns. In a game against UTSA, he scored five touchdowns (including a 67-yard touchdown run) and was named the game’s MVP.
In light of Manning’s promise, Sarkisian has decided to keep Ewers in the starting lineup, praising his leadership and expertise. Ewers has been an integral part of Texas’ winning season because to his experience playing in high-stakes games and his ability to keep his cool when things go tough. Even though he has skill, Manning is still getting used to NCAA football and has only seen action in limited packages or as a replacement for injured starters.
Future plans call for Ewers to enter the NFL Draft following this season, which would allow Manning to take over as starter in 2025. Manning has put an end to transfer speculations and shown his readiness to lead the Longhorns in the future by expressing his devotion to the team.
The Longhorns are laser-focused on the task at hand as they get ready for their matchup with the Buckeyes. Texas has a solid quarterback situation thanks to Ewers’ experience and Manning’s willingness to step in when necessary. This gives the team a balance of veteran leadership and promising young talent.
