Texas is heading into its Week 9 matchup against Vanderbilt following a 6-1 start to the season. However, the Longhorns suffered their first loss last week against Georgia, raising concerns not just about the defeat but also about some key coaching decisions. One of the more surprising moves came when Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian benched starting quarterback Quinn Ewers at the end of the first half, briefly replacing him with highly-touted backup Arch Manning. Manning, however, struggled during his short time on the field, prompting Ewers to return as the starter for the second half. Despite speculation about Manning’s playing time, Ewers remains the starting quarterback for the Longhorns against Vanderbilt.
Why isn’t Arch Manning playing today?
Although Ewers was benched for a brief stretch against Georgia, he has not played poorly enough over the course of the season to justify a permanent switch. In the game against the Bulldogs, Ewers threw for 211 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. While those numbers weren’t spectacular, they weren’t terrible either. Manning, in contrast, saw very limited action during his two series before halftime, completing only three passes for 19 yards and losing a fumble. As a result, Ewers was reinserted into the lineup after halftime and has retained his starting role for the game against Vanderbilt.
Manning’s performance in his brief appearance didn’t offer much of a case for taking over the starting job, which is why he remains the backup for now. However, Ewers’ benching last week might suggest that Sarkisian is keeping a closer eye on his performance. While Ewers is still the starter, Manning could see more opportunities if Ewers continues to struggle.
Who is Texas’ starting quarterback?
Ewers remains the starting quarterback for Texas. Sarkisian’s decision to briefly bench Ewers against Georgia seemed to be more about giving him a moment to reset rather than signaling a full shift in the quarterback position. Ewers has been the Longhorns’ starting quarterback since transferring from Ohio State and has not lost his grip on the job when healthy. His performance has generally been solid this season, and while the loss to Georgia raised some questions, it was not enough to result in a full-time change under center.
Quinn Ewers Stats
Ewers has played in five games so far in the 2024 season, throwing for 1,101 yards with 11 touchdowns and four interceptions. Over the course of his college career, he has accumulated 6,757 passing yards, 48 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions.
Texas QB Depth Chart
No. 1 Quinn Ewers: After starting his college career at Ohio State, Ewers transferred to Texas, where he quickly became the starting quarterback. Despite being briefly benched against Georgia, Ewers has maintained his position as the team’s No. 1 quarterback. He also has another year of eligibility if he decides to return for the 2025 season, though many expect him to enter the NFL Draft.
No. 2 Arch Manning: The highly-anticipated freshman quarterback is the nephew of NFL legends Eli and Peyton Manning and the grandson of Archie Manning. Arch committed to Texas out of high school and has been Ewers’ backup this season. Many believe Texas has the best quarterback duo in college football, but there is speculation about how long Manning will sit behind Ewers, especially if Ewers decides to return next year. Manning could potentially consider entering the transfer portal if he doesn’t see an opportunity to start soon.
No. 3 Trey Owens: Owens, a freshman and four-star recruit out of high school, is the third-string quarterback behind Ewers and Manning. Given the depth at the position, he has not seen significant playing time this season.
As Texas prepares to take on Vanderbilt, all eyes remain on the quarterback situation. While Ewers is still the starter, his recent benching and the presence of a high-profile backup in Arch Manning have created a sense of uncertainty. If Ewers struggles against Vanderbilt, there could be more calls for Manning to get additional playing time. However, for now, Ewers continues to lead the Longhorns as they aim to bounce back from their first loss of the season.
