Texas football playoff game vs Clemson features QBs Ewers, Klubnik
The American-Statesman discusses the quarterbacks and Westlake High products in the Texas-Clemson game. Plus, what other CFP game do we want to watch?
Earlier this week, Texas junior Quinn Ewers was asked a series of straightforward questions.
Playing quarterback at Texas, has it been everything you thought it would be, good and bad?
“Looking at it, you only think about the good whenever you’re a kid,” Ewers replied. “But that’s just life, though. Stuff’s going to come your way, you’ve just got to keep moving forward. It’s been fun, for sure.”
What’s been the most enjoyable part and what’s been the most miserable?
“Most enjoyable? I’d say just getting to know all these guys from different demographics, and just learning their stories and just getting to know guys from all over the country. I mean, football has given me the opportunity to get to know them. Without this team and without football, I wouldn’t have been able to build the relationships that I’ve built over the past three or so years.”
And the most miserable?
“Man, it’s all just been a learning experience, and nothing’s really been super miserable for me. It’s all been a good time.”
Whether he was being modest or just speaking his truth, those answers did not tell the entire story of Ewers’ three years on the Texas campus. Certainly, winning road games in front of 100,000 fans at Texas A&M, Michigan and Alabama was enjoyable. As was beating Oklahoma twice. Leading Texas to its first two appearances in the College Football Playoff had to be fun, and you can’t overlook a standout performance in the 2023 Big 12 championship game or his eventual placement behind just Colt McCoy, Sam Ehlinger and Major Applewhite on UT’s all-time passing chart (and Ewers needs just 33 yards to pass Applewhite). Becoming a NIL poster child was surely a nice bonus.
On the flip side, injuries have been a problem for Ewers throughout his college career. There has been constant criticism of his play, and he was temporarily benched during a high-profile game against Georgia this season. Having the world’s most popular backup quarterback — redshirt freshman Arch Manning — has only added fuel to the fire.
Ewers, though, will get a say in whether what is possibly his final chapter at Texas has a happy or disappointing ending. Texas and its third-year starting quarterback will open its College Football Playoff run at home against Clemson on Saturday.
Is this actually it for Quinn Ewers at Texas?
To be clear, Ewers hasn’t said that he isn’t coming back to Texas in 2025. There was thought that he’d leave Texas for the NFL after last season. But 10 days after UT lost to Washington in the Sugar Bowl, Ewers took to social media to announce that he was returning to lead the Longhorns.
On Monday, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said that Ewers hadn’t shared his plans with his coach. That wasn’t abnormal, however. Texas is preparing for the playoffs and Sarkisian said he hadn’t chatted with presumed first-round pick Kelvin Banks Jr. about his future, either.
Three days later, Sarkisian had a testy exchange with a reporter after he was asked to reflect on Ewers’ career. When the question was initially posited using language that assumed that Ewers wouldn’t return to Texas in 2025, Sarkisian repeatedly said he wouldn’t speak in hypotheticals. Only after the question was rephrased would Sarkisian give an answer.
“I’ve been really proud of the impact that he’s had on our program,” Sarkisian said. “He continues to perform in critical moments for us. He continues to fight through adversity and the resiliency he shows, not only physically but mentally, is a guy that I’m very proud of.”
Ewers also wasn’t that forthcoming about his future this week. He conceded on Monday that this might be his last game at Royal-Memorial Stadium, but he insisted that he hasn’t made a decision yet. Ewers even said that he hasn’t thought about who he’ll ask to advise him after the season ends.
“I’m just trying to win these games,” Ewers said.
But conventional wisdom does state that Saturday will mark Ewers’ 16th and final start at Royal-Memorial Stadium. If Ewers leads Texas out of the tunnel for its home opener against San Jose State in 2025, that would be a surprise. After all, Ewers did participate in the team’s Senior Day activities last month. The Longhorns also have a succession plan with Manning in place.
Ewers’ future is likely in the upcoming NFL draft. Some online speculation — and even a recent ESPN article — have additionally suggested that Ewers might consider following in the footsteps of 2024 Heisman Trophy finalists Dillon Gabriel and Cam Ward and exhaust his collegiate eligibility elsewhere in 2025.
Can Ewers join the championship-winning quarterbacks at Texas?
Just outside Royal-Memorial Stadium are bronze busts of the four quarterbacks who guided Texas to national championships. There’s a bust to honor Duke Carlisle, who outperformed Navy’s Roger Staubach at the 1964 Cotton Bowl to win Texas its first title. There’s a bust to honor James Street, who quarterbacked UT’s undefeated champion in 1969. Eddie Phillips, who led Texas to a title during the 1970 season, also had a bust. And of course there is a bust to honor Vince Young, whose 4th-and-5 scamper at the 2006 Rose Bowl earned him immortality on the 40 Acres.
While Colt McCoy and Bobby Layne have had their jerseys retired, one could argue that Carlisle, Street, Phillips and Young, who has also had his No. 10 set aside, have established the standard for Texas quarterbacks. Starting on Saturday against Clemson, that is the standard that Ewers will attempt to meet over the next month.
While allowing 22.3 points and 364.9 yards per game, Clemson ranks 42nd nationally in scoring defense and 65th in total defense. The Tigers have forced the ninth-most turnovers in the country, which should be a concern for a Texas team that has thrown 11 interceptions and lost 11 fumbles this season.
Ewers is averaging 32 pass attempts and 3.8 rushes per game. Since Texas runs 71.3 offensive plays per game, its offensive plans will revolve around its veteran quarterback. On Monday, Ewers said the key to success would be leaning on his teammates.
“Just try to get the ball to the playmakers and let them go to work at the end of the day. It sounds like a simple answer, but that’s kind of just how simple it is,” Ewers said.
As a starter, Ewers has compiled a 25-8 record. Those 25 wins are the seventh-most in school history. McCoy (45-8 from 2006-09), Young (30-2 from 2003-05), Layne (28-6 from 1944-47), Ehlinger (27-16 from 2017-20), Chris Simms (26-6 from 1999-02) and Marty Akins (26-9 from 1973-75) all won more.
Ewers, however, doesn’t need four wins to pass Layne. He needs four wins to match Carlisle, Street, Phillips and Young.
If Texas beats Clemson on Saturday, the Longhorns will advance to meet Arizona State in the Peach Bowl-hosted quarterfinals. Oregon, Ohio State or Tennessee would be the potential opponents in the College Football Playoff semifinals. The CFP championship game is then set for Jan. 20, 2025.
“We have a lot of confidence (in Quinn),” Banks said. “There’s not one time where we ever doubted Quinn in any situation. We feel like he can go out there and give us a good chance to win. We believe in him.”
Saturday’s game
No. 12 Clemson (10-3) at No. 5 Texas (11-2), CFP first-round game, Royal-Memorial Stadium, TNT, 1300, 98.1, 105.3 (Spanish)
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