The Texas Longhorns are entering the 2025 season with sky-high expectations, primarily because of Arch Manning, the redshirt sophomore quarterback stepping into the starting role after two years behind Quinn Ewers. Manning has been the subject of extreme hype since arriving in Austin.
However, despite Manning’s brilliant performance so far, head coach Steve Sarkisian stuck with Ewers as the starter through a 12-2 season that ended in a College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Ohio State. In a recent On3 interview, Texas Insider Joe Cook shed light on why Sarkisian never permanently switched to Manning.
Why Steve Sarkisian Stuck With Ewers Despite The Arch Manning Hype
Ewers secured his legacy at Texas with a 27-9 record, 8,321 passing yards, and 62 touchdowns, ranking him among the program’s all-time greats. Despite a seventh-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, Ewers led Texas to back-to-back conference championship games, including a Big 12 title 2023 and an SEC Championship appearance in 2024.
His consistency in big games, like throwing for 211 yards and two touchdowns in a comeback attempt against Georgia, made him Sarkisian’s clear choice. However, Ewers’ tenure wasn’t flawless. Injuries, including a strained abdomen and an ankle issue, sidelined him for the 2024 season.
His struggles in key games, notably a 6-of-12, 17-yard first half against Georgia that led to a brief benching, gave way to Manning. Yet, Sarkisian’s loyalty to Ewers never wavered.
Manning, the No. 1 recruit in the 2023 class, showed why he’s a generational talent, even in his limited action. In 2024, he played in 10 games, starting two against UTSA and Mississippi State, and finished with 939 passing yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions on 67.8% completion.
His 67-yard rushing touchdown against UTSA and a 325-yard, three-touchdown performance against Mississippi State won fans all over. Joe Cook emphasized Manning’s role in critical moments, like scoring the first touchdown in the Texas A&M rivalry game, a 17-7 win. Yet, Sarkisian never seriously considered a permanent switch.
“There may have been moments,” Cook said, referencing the Georgia game, when the coach may have thought about making the change, “but he knew he was going back to Quinn.”
Cook pointed to Ewers’ leadership and experience as what made him the first choice for Sarkisian, noting that even after a turnover-heavy game against Kentucky, Sarkisian stuck with him. “If he wanted to do it, he would have done it at that UTSA game,” Cook added, suggesting Manning’s inexperience and Ewers’ intangibles kept the starter line unchanged.
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With Ewers now in the NFL, 2025 is Manning’s year to lead Texas, a program coming off a 25-5 record over two seasons. The Longhorns face a tough schedule, including an opener at Ohio State, but return key players like edge rusher Colin Simmons and transfer additions like Stanford’s David Bailey. Manning’s mobility and deep-ball skill could boost Texas’s offense, though his inexperience remains a concern.
Sarkisian’s decision to stick with Ewers was about playing the safe game, depending on a proven quarterback’s leadership. As Cook explained, there was no moment when a permanent change felt right. With Manning all set to start, Texas fans hope the hype translates into a national title run, something Ewers fell just short of achieving.
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