Now that Quinn Ewers is back, Steve Sarkisian isn’t entertaining any notion of a quarterback controversy.
When Ewers strained his oblique in Week 3, the Texas Longhorns kept firing behind Arch Manning. The highly touted sophomore accumulated 804 passing yards and eight touchdowns in three games, but Sarkisian turned back to a healthy Ewers to lead a 34-3 victory over Oklahoma last Saturday. The junior will start a monumental SEC clash against Georgia on Saturday night.
Per Anwar Richardson of Orangebloods, Sarkisian shut down a reporter’s question about what it would take for the head coach to make a mid-game quarterback change.
“I’m not even going to answer that,” Sarkisian responded. “I don’t know what the question is. Next question.”
For Sarkisian’s clarification, the question was whether he would go back to Manning if Ewers faltered. That’s just apparently not a hypothetical the coach wants to consider.
Beyond getting hurt and playing for a team with a prolific backup, Ewers has done nothing to put his job in jeopardy. He’s completed 78 of 108 passes for 890 yards, nine touchdowns, three interceptions, and an 82.9 QBR this season.
Although far from dominant in his return, Ewers went 20-of-29 for 199 yards, a passing touchdown, a rushing touchdown, and a pick in a Red River Rivalry rout at the Cotton Bowl. It’s on the junior to fortify Texas’ standing as the top team in the nation.
Ewers will have his hands full against a Georgia defense that has allowed 192.3 passing yards per game. Fans and pundits may start mentioning Manning any time the starter stumbles.
Based on Sarkisian’s answer, it doesn’t sound like Ewers needs to look over his shoulder.
Related: Texas Announces Starting Quarterback For Rivalry Game vs. Oklahoma