No. 3 Texas might have a little extra pressure on it this week after quarterback Quinn Ewers tweaked his ankle during the Longhorns’ 31-14 win against Kentucky on Saturday. The injury forced Texas to lean heavily on its rushing attack and raised questions about Ewers’ readiness for the team’s pivotal matchup against Texas A&M.
With the SEC Championship Game and potentially an appearance in the 12-team College Football Playoff appearance on the line, now is not exactly the time for uncertainty at QB.
“I think he’s doing OK,” head coach Steve Sarkisian said in a news conference Monday. “He’s planning on practicing today, so we’ll see how that goes.”
This Saturday’s clash at Texas A&M (8-3) is the most critical test of the season for Texas (10-1). The longtime rivals have not played each other since 2011, when Texas beat Texas A&M 27-25 in College Station.
Ewers, even at less than full strength, will be essential for the Longhorns’ CFP hopes. Injuries are a factor for the CFP committee, which has penalized teams in the past for losing key players. Without Ewers at his best, Texas’ No. 3 ranking could change, although the Longhorns seem a lock for the expanded playoff, per CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford.
If Ewers is unavailable, redshirt freshman Arch Manning would take over as starting QB. The committee will likely analyze how Texas performs under those circumstances, as an underwhelming win or struggles from Manning could prompt a reevaluation of its playoff standing.
