Texas’ ambitious gamble on quarterback Quinn Ewers for the 2024 season has backfired, dealing a significant blow to their College Football Playoff hopes. Ewers, once a highly touted recruit and transfer from Ohio State, was expected to lead the Longhorns back to national prominence. Early in the season, Ewers showcased flashes of brilliance, demonstrating his elite arm talent and football IQ. However, as the season progressed, inconsistencies in his play became evident, compounded by untimely injuries and offensive misfires.
The Longhorns’ high expectations began to unravel in key matchups, particularly against top-ranked opponents in the Big 12. With Ewers under center, Texas struggled to find an offensive rhythm in games where it mattered most. Costly interceptions and miscommunications with his wide receivers left the Longhorns unable to sustain drives in crucial moments. Head coach Steve Sarkisian’s offense, built around Ewers’ skill set, began to falter, as defenses adjusted and exposed weaknesses in the passing game.
The turning point came in a high-stakes matchup, where Ewers threw a game-ending interception on a potential go-ahead drive. This loss all but sealed Texas’ fate, effectively eliminating them from playoff contention and leaving fans to wonder what could have been.
In hindsight, Texas’ reliance on a quarterback with high upside but limited consistency may have been too risky. The gamble to bypass a more conservative approach—perhaps incorporating more running plays or using backup quarterbacks—proved costly. As the Longhorns’ season winds down, questions about their quarterback development and future direction loom large, leaving the program to reassess its strategy heading into next season. Texas will need to regroup and find more stability if they hope to reclaim their status among college football’s elite.
