Quinn Ewers might be the most under-appreciated quarterback in the modern era of Texas football. Why just the modern era? Nobody knows how Bobby Layne or James Street would have been treated on social media.

At least we had talk radio as a means to nitpick Peter Gardere and James Brown.

Ewers is four wins from permanently sitting beside Vince Young and ahead of Colt McCoy as the greatest Longhorns quarterback of all time. And yet for some, it’s not good enough. Such is life as the quarterback at the University of Texas.

“I guess looking at it, you only think about the good whenever you're a kid,” Ewers said. “But that’s just life, though. I mean, stuff’s going to come your way. Just gotta keep moving forward. But it's been fun for sure.”

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Texas coach Steve Sarkisian is going to ride or die with Ewers at the controls during the College Football Playoffs, which begin Saturday at home against Clemson (10-3). It makes sense to use backup Arch Manning as a change-up option for his mobility. But it’s going to be Ewers, whether it’s good, bad or indifferent.

Statistically, Ewers is already one of the all-time Texas greats. He’s 25-8 as a starter. Ewers is fourth on the all-time passing list with 8,321 yards, just 32 behind Major Applewhite. He’s thrown 62 touchdowns, the third-highest total ever.

Ewers has won a Big 12 championship, played in the SEC title game and led the Horns to back-to-back CFP appearances. He’s widely expected to go pro this spring but, following UT’s longtime script, avoided answering specific questions about his future this week.

Asked what the most enjoyable part of playing at UT, Ewers said, “I'd say just getting to know all these guys from different demographics, and just learning their stories, and just getting to know guys from all over the country.

“Without this team and without football, I wouldn’t have been able to build the relationships that I've built over the past three or so years.”

College Football Playoffs gives Quinn Ewers and Cade Klubnik a second chance after Texas state championship duel

The future Texas and Clemson quarterbacks met in the Class 6A Division state championship in January 2021

And the most miserable part?

“It’s all just been a learning experience, and nothing’s really been super miserable for me,” Ewers said. “It’s all been a good time.”

Every teammate and coach Steve Sarkisian will line up to talk about Ewers’ competitiveness, his leadership and his desire to win at Texas. “Quinn’s a baller,” safety Michael Taaffe said. “Everything that he does is for perfection. He chases greatness every single day.”

In that vein, Ewers knows the offense hasn’t been playing great the last few games. In the SEC championship, Texas hurt itself with self-inflicted wounds that led to field goals instead of touchdowns. Left to chance, the Longhorns watched the Dawgs escape with a 22-19 overtime victory.

Those who think it was all Ewers’ fault should know the quarterback had the highest offensive grade of any starter in the SEC championship, according to Pro Football Focus.

“I think we’re hurting ourselves at the end of the day,” Ewers said. “We got no problems moving the ball and having explosive plays and whatnot. But whether that be penalties or loss of yardage on passes, runs, whatever it is, we just have to remain confident when we pass that 20- to 30-yard line.”

Sarkisian has all the confidence in Ewers. The coach made his feelings clear on the Rich Eisen Show where he admitted, “I try not to consume myself with what y’all think.”

“If I read, if I kind of let the emotional roller coaster of what other people think, I’d be an emotional nightmare.”

Any Longhorns fan who suffered through the 2010s should know the program has it pretty good at the moment. And it has a bright future with Manning, no question.

But the here and now is all about Ewers.