Quinn Ewers Is Texas’ QB1 over Arch Manning for 2024 Season, HC Steve Sarkisian Says

After leading Texas to a Big 12 title and an appearance in the College Football Playoff last season, Quinn Ewers is going into 2024 as the starting quarterback.

Head coach Steve Sarkisian praised Arch Manning as someone who has “an extremely bright future,” but declared Ewers will be the No. 1 signal-caller on the depth chart.

Manning was the No. 1 recruit in the 2023 class and committed to Texas in the summer of 2022. He played behind Ewers and Maalik Murphy as a true freshman, throwing a total of five passes in two games.

Murphy transferred to Duke after the regular season. Manning seemed like a prime candidate to transfer, especially when Ewers announced he was returning to the Longhorns next season.

Even though the door was open for Manning to find a school that would have allowed him to play right away, he never seriously considered leaving Texas.

“Obviously there’s always rumors, especially nowadays. I haven’t looked into transferring at all,” Manning said on Dec. 30. “I’m just focused on developing and helping this team any way I can and hopefully one day playing for the University of Texas like I’ve always wanted to.”

Ewers had a breakout season in 2023 with 3,479 passing yards, 22 touchdown passes and a 69.0 completion percentage.

The Longhorns went 12-2 this season, highlighted by a 34-24 win over Alabama at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Week 2. They won the Big 12 for the first time since 2009 and made the playoff for the first time since the format was adopted in 2014.

Next season will see Texas join the SEC where things figure to be more difficult as it looks to get back to the playoff. The schedule includes a non-conference road game against Michigan, the Red River Rivalry matchup vs. Oklahoma and a home game against Georgia.