Arch Manning or Quinn Ewers is the question, and Texas could get that answer during the Red River Rivalry
Texas football has one of the more interesting storylines, and possibly dilemmas, in college football right now. Quarterback Quinn Ewers has an argument as one of the finest signal callers in all of the country, while backup Arch Manning makes a similar claim when it comes to overall talent. Head coach Steve Sarkisian has maintained […]
Texas football has one of the more interesting storylines, and possibly dilemmas, in college football right now. Quarterback Quinn Ewers has an argument as one of the finest signal callers in all of the country, while backup Arch Manning makes a similar claim when it comes to overall talent. Head coach Steve Sarkisian has maintained that Ewers is their guy, even while Manning has played exceptionally well in his absence.
Even with that backing, it’s still very reasonable to ask the question: Would the Longhorns be better off just rolling with Manning on a full time basis? It’s possible that we get that answer this weekend against Oklahoma, a game that means so much to both programs. Chaos is always expected in the Red River Rivalry, and it wouldn’t be shocking if the quarterback room was a part of the aftermath.
As long as Ewers is healthy and ready to go, he is going to be the starter for this football game. But with how well Manning has played, you have to imagine there is an elevated level of confidence in Manning if he’s going to be pressed into duty. Ewers has a long history of durability issues, so the redshirt freshman signal caller needs to be ready regardless of what his role is on Saturday.
There’s a chance that we could see him at least in a backup capacity, which could leave the door open. Let’s also imagine the worst case scenario. If Texas isn’t able to take care of business, and Ewers doesn’t play overly well, what is the next step from there? We saw just last year Ewers throw a couple of interceptions against the Sooners, and fall short 34 to 30 in that contest.
With how Oklahoma has been playing this season, it probably isn’t overly likely that Texas will lay an egg, but crazier things have happened in this rivalry. You have to prepare for anything, every single year, no matter how good or bad both teams are.
If disaster does strike, or Ewers doesn’t play overly well, the conversation surrounding turning over the reins to Manning should absolutely happen. When you put the two players side by side, it’s pretty easy to see who is the more talented player. In one corner we have a 6-2, 205-pound signal caller with modest speed, a talented arm, and a troubling injury history. In the other, we have a 6-4, 220-pound quarterback with great speed, a strong arm, and lacks game experience.
Is that lack of experience really a big enough of a differentiator to leave the more talented player on the bench, especially when you’re pursuing a championship run?
Texas star Isaiah Bond continuing his quest to be WR1 in the 2025 NFL Draft against Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry
Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond could put on a show against Oklahoma
On the season, both quarterbacks have been very efficient. Obviously there is some context to that conversation while having played some different opponents individually, but still, it’s a pretty good sample size overall. Both players are completing over 70 percent of their passes, and have each thrown just two interceptions in nearly identical passing attempts on the season.
The big difference between the two is the ability to make big plays. Manning is averaging a stellar 11.6 yards per attempt, and 16.4 yards per completion, while Ewers is averaging 8.7 and 11.9 respectively. Consistency pushing the ball down the field has always been a negative for Ewers, and it’s something that Manning ironically excels at.
Manning is also the much bigger rushing threat, running for 82 yards and three touchdowns, while averaging an impressive 6.3 yards per carry. That threat of him as a runner has helped the running backs become more efficient over the last couple of games as well. Ewers, in comparison, has rushed for just one yard on six carries this season. That just isn’t a part of his game.
We know that Steve Sarkisian wants his offense to be equally as efficient as it is explosive. If both quarterbacks are similar in the former, then this shouldn’t be much of a debate when considering the latter. Manning brings a much higher upside to the table, something that may be needed to not waste the upside of pass game weapons like Isaiah Bond, Matthew Golden, Ryan Wingo, and Gunnar Helm. That group is incredibly fast and explosive.
We also aren’t talking about a true freshman in Manning, which should alleviate some of the hesitancy to potentially turn over the reins to Manning. He is in his second season under Coach Sarkisian. This isn’t a player who is brand new, and doesn’t understand the system.
Regardless of how this weekend plays out, the conversation for a timeline for Manning to take over should be on the table. Depending how Red River goes, that could escalate quickly. It is nothing against Ewers, who is quite a good college quarterback. This is more about how special Manning is, and capitalizing on his ceiling on a team that can potentially win a championship this season.
