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Steve Sarkisian - English
Texas Longhorns - English
Quinn Ewers‘ tenure with the Texas Longhorns included plenty of high points, like a stunning early-season road win over Michigan in 2024 where he dazzled with a touchdown to Gunner Helm after a fake-out scramble.
Following that dominant 31-12 victory, Ewers declared, “I just enjoy big moments.” But not every big moment delivered the same result.
Despite throwing for over 9,000 yards and leading Texas to back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances, Ewers’ inconsistency in key matchups has drawn criticism-particularly after the Longhorns‘ Cotton Bowl defeat to Ohio State.
ESPN’s Paul Finebaum believes Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian made a critical mistake by not turning to Arch Manning.
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Finebaum backs Manning, questions Sarkisian’s call
In the Cotton Bowl, Ewers completed 23 of 40 passes for 283 yards, but a costly fumble that was returned for a touchdown swung the game.
That moment, alongside his previous playoff struggles-such as pick-sixes against Georgia and inefficiency against Clemson-has led some to argue that Manning should’ve been given a chance on the big stage.
“There is nothing finer than Arch Manning starting at Texas. It’s long overdue,” Finebaum said on ESPN College Football.
“I think Arch Manning should have come in the Cotton Bowl loss to Ohio State. And I think there’s a chance that game could have gone differently, but he is going to bring Texas within a whisker of perhaps another run at a national championship (in 2025).”
Manning did make a brief appearance in the game on a fourth-down play, but remained largely on the sidelines. Sarkisian‘s decision to stay with the more experienced Ewers likely stemmed from the high stakes and Manning‘s limited action in 2024. But with hindsight, it’s a decision that continues to fuel debate.
QB transition and injury concerns loom large for 2025
With Ewers declaring for the NFL Draft, the path is clear for Arch Manning to take over full-time duties in 2025.
Despite only limited appearances last season, Manning showed promise, finishing with 939 passing yards and 108 rushing yards. The excitement around his potential is tempered, however, by Texas’ recent injury history at the position.
“We’ve had four straight years where our starting QBs have gone down,” Sarkisian admitted. “We’ve got two young, talented guys, but adding an older, experienced QB puts us in the best spot for a long season. You need depth to survive 17 games.”
That insurance policy comes in the form of Matthew Caldwell, a transfer from Troy, who threw for 1,608 yards and 13 touchdowns across 10 games in 2024. His presence bolsters Texas’ quarterback depth as the Longhorns look to manage Manning‘s workload and minimize injury risks.
Ewers may have ended his Texas career as a loyal and impactful player, but the Cotton Bowl loss has added an asterisk to his legacy. Whether Manning can live up to the pressure and deliver a championship remains to be seen, but the torch has now firmly been passed-and expectations have never been higher.
This news was originally published on this post .
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