Texas enjoyed its best season in 15 years last year as it won 13 games and advanced to the College Football Playoff Semifinals. This was all with quarterback Quinn Ewers at the helm, who started in 15 of Texas‘ 17 games. He missed two games to injury, which Arch Manning started instead.
The Longhorns’ season came to an end at the hand of eventual National Champions Ohio State in a game in which Ewers passed for 283 yards, two touchdowns and one interceptions. ESPN’s Paul Finebaum however revealed on Friday’s edition of SportsCenter that he believed Manning should have been starting over Ewers all along.
“Steve Sarkisian has told me and other coaches down there have told everyone that he is unbelievable,” Finebaum said. “He’s not the Heisman favorite because his grandfather and two uncles were great players. He’s the Heisman favorite right now because of what people have seen in practice and they know what his ability is.”
“Everybody harps on those games last year but he should’ve been the starter at the end of last season but he wasn’t. He hung around even though Quinn Ewers came back for a last year and I think he is ready for this moment. That moment is going to be in Columbus in three weeks.”
His statement on Friday however contradicts his statement from last October, when he shut down any claims that there should be quarterback controversy between Ewers and Manning.
“No,” Finebaum replied when asked whether there was a chance of a quarterback change for the Longhorns. “Quinn Ewers is still the better quarterback. Arch Manning is fantastic, is the best backup in America but, right now, Sark is making the right decision.”
Over his three-year stint at Texas, Ewers passed for 9,128 yards, 68 touchdowns and just 24 interceptions. In games he played in, the Longhorns went 27-9 with two College Football Playoff game victories. Texas went 2-0 in the games Manning started last season, with wins over UTSA and Mississippi State.
“I learned so much from Quinn in my two years behind him,” Manning said at SEC Media Days. “I think he handled it like a pro. It’s definitely not easy having me as a backup with all the media, but he’s always been nice and good to me. I’m forever thankful for him and I actually texted him the other week for advice on two-minute [drills], and what plays he likes to start with.”
