Quinn Ewers, Texas Excite CFB Fans in Win vs. TAMU to Clinch SEC Title Game Berth
Dec 1, 2024
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 30: Quinn Ewers #3 of the Texas Longhorns throws the ball during the first quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field on November 30, 2024 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
With a spot in the SEC Championship Game on the line, No. 3 Texas secured a hard-fought 17-7 win over No. 20 Texas A&M on Saturday night.
The Longhorns were held scoreless in the second half after a hot start, but they were still able to emerge victorious due to an impressive defensive performance.
Texas allowed just 248 total yards while the Aggies' lone touchdown was a pick six in the second half. Texas A&M nearly found the end zone again in the fourth quarter, but the Longhorns forced a turnover on downs with a goal-line stand.
Quinn Ewers dealt with some inconsistency, finishing 17-of-28 for 218 yards and a touchdown as well as the aforementioned interception that was returned for a score. He also fumbled the ball in the Aggies' red zone near the end of the third quarter.
There's still a lot of football to be played, but this has been a hell of a performance by the Longhorns. Heard nothing but confidence from people connected to players all week. Justified.
Sophomore running back Quintrevion Wisner buoyed the Longhorns' rushing attack, picking up 186 yards on 33 carries. Backup quarterback Arch Manning also saw limited playing time, rushing for 14 yards and a touchdown.
ARCH MANNING COMES INTO THE GAME ON FOURTH DOWN AND SCORES AN UNREAL TOUCHDOWN 🔥
The stage is now set for a rematch between Georgia and Texas, with the Bulldogs winning the first matchup by the final score of 30-15 on Oct. 19.
The SEC title clash is on Dec. 7 at 4 p.m. ET.
Report: Texas' Quinn Ewers to Start amid Injury; Arch Manning Could Make 'Cameo'
Nov 30, 2024
AUSTIN, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 23: Quinn Ewers #3 of the Texas Longhorns warms up before the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Quarterback Quinn Ewers is reportedly expected to start for the No. 3 Texas Longhorns in their road game against the No. 20 Texas A&M Aggies on Saturday night.
According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, Ewers is "unlikely to be 100 percent" after suffering a high ankle sprain in last week's win over Kentucky, but he has been "rehabbing feverishly" and is listed as probable to play Saturday.
However, since Ewers' mobility figures to be compromised by the injury, Thamel noted that Longhorns backup Arch Manning could "make some cameo appearances" during the game against Texas A&M.
This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis.
ESPN College Gameday 2024: Week 14 Location Hosts, TV Schedule and Predictions
Nov 29, 2024
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - NOVEMBER 16: Head Coach Steve Sarkisian of the Texas Longhorns leads his team onto the field before a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on November 16, 2024 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Longhorns defeated the Razorbacks 20-10. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
Georgia is hoping to win its second SEC championship in three years. The Bulldogs have already punched their ticket to the conference title game (Dec. 7 in Atlanta), but they don't yet know who they'll be facing.
That will be decided on Saturday night in College Station, Texas.
Texas A&M is set to host Texas at Kyle Field, with the winner advancing to play Georgia in the SEC Championship Game the following week. The stakes will be high in the first meeting between the Aggies and the Longhorns since 2011.
ESPN's College GameDay is heading to College Station ahead of the big matchup. The popular kickoff show, which was also held at Texas A&M's campus on Aug. 31, will air from 9 a.m.-noon ET on ESPN and ESPNU.
Before getting into more on the Texas-Texas A&M matchup, here's the full Top 25 slate for Week 14 (the final week of the 2024 regular season), along with predictions for each contest.
Week 14 Top 25 Schedule, Predictions
Friday, Nov. 29
Oregon State at No. 11 Boise State, noon ET, Fox
Oklahoma State at No. 25 Colorado, noon ET, ABC
Mississippi State at No. 14 Ole Miss, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Georgia Tech at No. 7 Georgia, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Saturday, Nov. 30
Michigan at No. 2 Ohio State, noon ET, Fox
No. 8 Tennessee at Vanderbilt, noon ET, ABC
No. 15 South Carolina at No. 12 Clemson, noon ET, ESPN
No. 23 Illinois at Northwestern, noon ET, Big Ten Network
Maryland at No. 4 Penn State, 3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network
No. 5 Notre Dame at USC, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS
No. 6 Miami at Syracuse, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
California at No. 9 SMU, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Auburn at No. 13 Alabama, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
No. 16 Arizona State at Arizona, 3:30 p.m. ET, Fox
Arkansas at No. 21 Missouri, 3:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network
Purdue at No. 10 Indiana, 7 p.m. ET, FS1
Washington at No. 1 Oregon, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC
No. 3 Texas at No. 20 Texas A&M, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC
No. 24 Kansas State at No. 18 Iowa State, 7:30 p.m. ET, Fox
Nevada at No. 22 UNLV, 8 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network
Houston at No. 19 BYU, 10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN
Picks in bold.
Texas-Texas A&M Preview
From 1915-2011, Texas and Texas A&M played every season, part of a conference rivalry between the two programs (first in the Southwest Conference, then in the Big 12). Then, the Aggies departed for the SEC.
Now, the Longhorns are also in the SEC. Thus, the in-state rivalry featuring the two schools will be reignited on Saturday night at Kyle Field, with a conference championship game berth on the line.
Through 118 meetings between these programs, Texas leads the all-time series 76-37-5. The Longhorns are also the favorite to win on Saturday, considering they're 10-1 this season with only a loss to Georgia (a 30-15 defeat on Oct. 19).
Meanwhile, Texas A&M has struggled a bit of late. After a 7-1 start, the Aggies have since lost a pair of SEC road matchups in a three-game span, falling 44-20 at South Carolina on Nov. 2 and losing 43-41 in four overtimes at Auburn this past Saturday.
On paper, Texas looks like the better team. But Texas A&M won't be an easy opponent, especially because it could still win its way to the SEC Championship Game, a conference title and the College Football Playoff.
Longhorns junior quarterback Quinn Ewers has been dealing with an ankle injury this week, so he could be a bit banged up if he's under center on Saturday. But he's been putting up big numbers in recent weeks, having thrown nine touchdown passes and zero interceptions over his past three games.
The Aggies' offense has had success keeping the ball on the ground this season. Their 208.4 rushing yards per game rank second in the SEC. However, junior running back Le'Veon Moss is out for the season due to a leg injury, leaving junior Amari Daniels (640 rushing yards) to lead the charge.
Although it's been more than a decade since Texas and Texas A&M have faced off, the players understand the history of the rivalry. And everybody knows what to expect from the atmosphere.
"That place is going to be rocking," Texas senior cornerback Jahdae Barron said, per Jim Vertuno and Kristie Rieken of the Associated Press. "It's good to go on the road and play in hostile environments."
It could be the Longhorns' toughest test yet, one that prepares them for the CFP, which is where they'll likely to end up. However, their path becomes much clearer with a win at Texas A&M, so they won't be able to look too far ahead.
NFL Scout: Texas' Quinn Ewers Is 'Tough as Nails Mentally' After Return from Benching
Nov 26, 2024
AUSTIN, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 23: Quinn Ewers #3 of the Texas Longhorns warms up before the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers has not been included in the conversation for top NFL draft prospects, but he's still managed to impress many around the league.
Per ESPN's Jordan Reid, Ewers earned praise for his ability to overcome his tumultuous 2024 season, which included an in-game benching.
"He's tough as nails mentally because of all of the background noise is impossible to ignore," an AFC area scout told Reid. "Despite all of that, he's dealt with getting benched and returned as the starter in the same game, which says a lot about his toughness."
Ewers was benched in the first half of Texas' Week 8 loss to Georgia and replaced by redshirt freshman Arch Manning, but he showed his resiliency when he returned after halftime to throw two touchdown passes. He also missed time with an abdominal injury early in the year before making his return.
In nine games, Ewers has thrown for 2,089 yards, 23 touchdowns and six interceptions. The No. 3 Longhorns are 10-1 entering Saturday's game against No. 15 Texas A&M.
A strong finish to the season would go a long way toward improving Ewers' draft stock.
Report: Quinn Ewers to Undergo MRI on Ankle Injury After Texas' Win vs. Kentucky
Nov 24, 2024
AUSTIN, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 23: Quinn Ewers #3 of the Texas Longhorns throws a pass in the first quarter against the Kentucky Wildcats at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers reportedly will undergo testing on his ankle injury suffered during Saturday's 31-14 victory over the Kentucky Wildcats, according to Anwar Richardson of Rivals.com.
Texas QB Quinn Ewers will undergo a precautionary MRI on Sunday after injuring his ankle against Kentucky, according to my sources. Everyone close to the situation is cautiously optimistic Ewers does not have any structural damage and will only need ankle treatments this week. pic.twitter.com/gP5yqOmvN8
Ewers was injured on a scramble earlier in the game that resulted in Ewers being tackled and a little banged up. Following the game, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian tried to remain positive.
"(His ankle) just kind of kept tightening up on him," Sarkisian told reporters, per ESPN's Dave Wilson. "At that point, I just said I didn't feel like it was worth having to expose him, the way we were starting to run it."
Despite the injury, Ewers completed 20-of-31 pass attempts for 191 yards and two touchdowns, helping elevate the team to 10-1 on the season.
To ease concerns about the injury, Ewers clarified that it was minimal.
"It's just a little tender," Ewers said, per Wilson. "I was around the 50-yard-line and I stepped up and kind of took off running a little bit and then kind of got hip-drop tackled and I think he kind of just rolled up on it a little bit. But it's football and stuff like that happens."
Ewers will receive treatment for the injury throughout the week, according to Wilson, before facing long-time rival Texas A&M in College Station.
AUSTIN, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 23: Quinn Ewers #3 of the Texas Longhorns throws a pass in the first quarter against the Kentucky Wildcats at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
No. 3 Texas wasn't flawless on Saturday, but the Longhorns still made enough plays to defeat Kentucky by the final score of 31-14.
Head coach Steve Sarkisian's team has now won four consecutive games.
Texas secured the win over the Wildcats due to a strong performance from Quinn Ewers, who finished 20-of-31 for 191 yards and two touchdowns.
Ewers briefly entered the medical tent on the sideline after he appeared to be limping in the second quarter, but he was back on the field during Texas' next drive (h/t Justin Wells of On3.com).
Sophomore running back Tre Wisner carried the Longhorns' offense, rushing for 158 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries.
The Longhorns' defense also held up, allowing just 232 total yards and seven points as Kentucky scored its second touchdown of the contest due to a 25-yard fumble recovery in the third quarter.
With the victory, the Longhorns improved to 10-1 and remain atop the SEC standings. Despite suffering a 30-15 loss to No. 10 Georgia on Oct. 19, Texas has still been able to establish itself as a College Football Playoff contender throughout its first year in a new conference.
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - NOVEMBER 16: Quinn Ewers #3 and Matthew Golden #2 of the Texas Longhorns celebrate after a touchdown in the first half during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on November 16, 2024 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
No. 3 Texas escaped Arkansas with a 20-10 win on Saturday afternoon, moving to 9-1 overall (5-1 SEC) on the season.
The Longhorn defense took control and propelled Texas to victory. The unit held Arkansas scoreless on its first eight drives, which totaled just 56 yards and resulted in six punts, an interception and a drive that stalled out at the end of the first half.
However, Texas couldn't put the game away due to the offensive struggles. In particular, the passing game sputtered most of the afternoon. Quarterback Quinn Ewers completed 20-of-32 passes for just 176 yards (5.5 YPA) and two touchdowns, both of which went to wide receiver Matthew Golden. The first one was a 20-yarder in the first quarter to open the scoring.
Arkansas finally got on the board with a 12-play, 75-yard drive capped by a Ja'Quinden Jackson one-yard touchdown run with 3:38 remaining in the third quarter. The Razorbacks then forced a three-and-out to give themselves a chance to take the lead.
Arkansas got as far as the Texas 26-yard line, but the drive stalled there. Matthew Shipley's 44-yard field goal cut the Texas lead to 13-10 early in the fourth quarter.
The Longhorns then engineered a timely drive backed largely by three Jaydon Blue runs for 41 yards that got the team down to the Arkansas 14-yard line. Four plays later, Golden caught a one-yard TD pass, and Texas led 20-10 after the PAT.
The Razorbacks drove into Texas territory and looked to be in position for a first down after a CJ Brown 12-yard catch, but Alfred Collins forced a fumble recovered by teammate Michael Taaffe. In response, the Longhorns ran out the final 6:49 of game time.
This was ultimately an ugly win against a 5-5 Arkansas team that's now 3-4 in the SEC. It didn't inspire confidence in the Longhorns, as fans were left unimpressed with the uninspiring performance. In particular, Ewers received some criticism for his outing.
I refuse to believe Texas' best football is behind them but it is seriously annoying and concerning how committed they are to allowing teams to hang in games
I'm sorry, this Texas offense is very underwhelming considering all of the athletes the #Longhorns have on the offensive side of the football. It's been very disappointing for #Texas offensively today.
Texas is the most talented team in the country. They are being held back by Quinn Ewers. He's just not good enough. He hasn't really improved in 3 years at Texas. I just don't see it man
On the other hand, a win is a win, and Texas still looks well-positioned for a spot in the SEC Championship Game and a College Football Playoff berth.
Up next is a home date with Kentucky on Saturday followed by a difficult road matchup with No. 15 Texas A&M on Nov. 30.
Florida's Billy Napier Roasted by CFB Fans as Quinn Ewers, Texas Dominate in SEC Game
Nov 9, 2024
JACKSONVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 02: Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier argues a call during the game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Florida Gators on November 2, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
It was the Quinn Ewers show in Austin as No. 5 Texas dominated Florida 49-17 on Saturday.
Ewers posted 297 passing yards and four touchdowns in the first 30 minutes of action, setting the Longhorns up for a stress-free second half. After taking their foot off the gas some in the second half, Ewers finished the game with 333 passing yards and five touchdowns.
The Gators struggled offensively without starting quarterback DJ Lagway. Aidan Warner completed 12 of his 25 pass attempts for just 132 yards and a pair of interceptions. Florida managed to put some points on the board after a first-half shutout, but its points came after Texas took its starting unit out of the game.
After the first-half route, fans blasted Florida head coach Billy Napier for his team's weak effort against the Longhorns.
Florida telling billy Napier his job is safe and then being down by 30 at halftime is why Florida is the biggest joke in college football right now and there is no close second
Earlier this week, Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin announced that Napier would return as the Gators' head coach despite a 4-4 start to the season and a 15-18 record overall.
Perhaps Stricklin made the decisions prematurely, as a blowout such as Saturday's is far from the standard in the SEC.
In Napier's defense, Texas is one of the best teams in the SEC and college football. Aside from a loss to Georgia, the Longhorns have handled every opponent on their schedule with ease so far and seem well on their way to a College Football Playoff appearance.
Still, anytime you square off with an SEC opponent, it's expected you put up at least somewhat of a fight.
For years, being a national championship contender was the standard at Florida. That has not been the case during Napier's tenure. Florida finished 6-7 in his first season in 2022 before going 5-7 last year, marking the first time the Gators failed to clinch bowl eligibility since 2017.
Reaching a bowl game will be a tall task for Napier again this season. After Saturday's matchup, Florida will take on a pair of ranked opponents in No. 15 LSU and No. 16 Ole Miss before facing Florida State to close out the season. Winning at least two of their last three games seems nearly impossible for the Gators at this point.
Johntay Cook II Leaves Texas; WR Is Former 5-Star Prospect
Nov 7, 2024
AUSTIN, TX - SEPTEMBER 21: Texas Longhorns wide receiver Johntay Cook II (1) jogs off the field after warmups before the college football game between Texas Longhorns and University of Louisiana Monroe Warhawks on September 21, 2024, at Darrell K Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Texas wide receiver Johntay Cook II has left the program, according to ESPN's Max Olson.
Head coach Steve Sarkisian confirmed his departure.
"We've had some roster movement today with Johntay Cook moving on," Sarkisian told reporters in a media call. "We have nothing but respect for he and his family. Wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors."
Cook caught eight passes for 136 yards as a true freshman in 2023, and that production mirrors his 2024 return (eight receptions, 137 yards, two touchdowns).
The DeSoto, Texas, native was a big addition to the Longhorns' 2023 recruiting class. A 5-star recruit, he was 29th overall in 247Sports' composite rankings.
It's unclear what precipitated Cook's decision, though his usage had started to tail off. His last catch came in the 35-13 victory over Mississippi State on Sept. 28. He was held without a reception in the 34-3 demolition of Oklahoma and didn't see the field at all in Texas' two subsequent games.
Cook might've simply gotten crowded out in a receiving corps that includes Isaiah Bond, Matthew Golden, Ryan Wingo and DeAndre Moore Jr.
Given both his 5-star status and production as a secondary target though two seasons, Cook is likely to get plenty of interest in the transfer portal. A change of scenery will also allow him the opportunity to find an offense in which he'll have a bigger role next year.
Texas' Sarkisian Praises Quinn Ewers: Vandy Win Shows 'True Character' After UGA Loss
Oct 27, 2024
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 26: Quinn Ewers #3 of the Texas Longhorns looks to pass the ball against the Vanderbilt Commodores in the first half at FirstBank Stadium on October 26, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images)
While Texas is in the middle of the SEC and College Football Playoff race following a 7-1 start to the season, it hasn't always been the easiest campaign for quarterback Quinn Ewers.
But head coach Steve Sarkisian said his resilience was on full display during Saturday's 27-24 victory over Vanderbilt.
"You can't get worse than how it went for [Ewers] last week, especially in that first half, and then his ability to bounce back and show the resolve that he showed," Sarkisian said, per ESPN's Chris Low. "I always say that the sign of the true character of a man is in the face of adversity, and that was a lot of adversity for him, a lot of adversity for us as a team coming off last week's game.
"I think the way he responded was kind of indicative of how we responded as a team."
As Low noted, Ewers missed time earlier this season with an oblique injury, was temporarily benched for Arch Manning during the previous loss to Georgia and was even the subject of a false report on social media saying he would not play the rest of the year so he could focus on the NFL draft.
It is perhaps fitting then that Ewers had to battle through adversity within the Vanderbilt game, as he threw an interception on Texas' first possession. The Commodores scored on their opening possession, and the Longhorns were trailing just like that.
Ewers responded by leading two straight touchdown drives to seize control and finished 27-of-37 passing for 288 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. He also completed 17 straight passes at one point during the game.
Even with those solid numbers, Texas didn't clinch the win until it recovered an onside kick in the final minute.
That is more of a testament to Vanderbilt than anything else, as the Commodores are much better than they usually are and already defeated Alabama this season.
While the Longhorns have that loss to Georgia on their resume, they surely control their own destiny in the race for the 12-team CFP and don't face a ranked team again until the final game of the regular season against Texas A&M.
Ewers should have them playing for all their goals by late November, especially if he continues to fight through adversity.
