The Texas Longhorns may have won their opening-round matchup against the Clemson Tigers, but quarterback Quinn Ewers didn’t necessarily have a dominant performance.
Texas pulled off a 38-24 win in its first-round College Football Playoff matchup with the Clemson Tigers on Saturday afternoon, holding off a late charge from the Tigers.
The Longhorns won the game thanks in large part to a strong rushing attack and good defense with running backs Jaydon Blue and Quintrevion Wisner each rushing for more than 100 yards in the game.
As college football columnist and analyst Barrett Sallee of OutKick points out, Quinn Ewers did not necessarily perform all that well.
“The hidden truth is that quarterback Quinn Ewers was a very pedestrian 17-of-24 for 202 yards, one touchdown and one interception against the Tigers on Saturday. Unfortunately, that’s par for the course,” Sallee wrote.
Given Ewers’ mediocre performance, Sallee suggested that the Longhorns might have a decision to make at the quarterback position.
Former five-star recruit Arch Manning played extensively in relief of Ewers throughout the season and has emerged as a change-of-pace option for the team with his running ability.
But after the pedestrian performance from Ewers, could the Longhorns choose to start Manning over Ewers?
“The second-year starter has been nursing an ankle injury and, for the most part, has been more of a game-manager than a difference-maker – especially down the stretch. That had some asking if coach Steve Sarkisian might consider turning to sophomore signal-caller and hot shot recruit Arch Manning,” Sallee wrote.
We’ll have to see whether or not Texas decides to start Manning over Ewers in their quarterfinal game against the Arizona State Sun Devils.
[OutKick]
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