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The Texas Longhorns are looking to cap the 2024 college football season with a national championship. The program already took down Clemson in its playoff opener, and they’ll soon face Arizona State in Game 2.
While the focus is locked in on the task at hand, questions about the future remain. Much of the concern centers around the QB position where Arch Manning and Quinn Ewers currently reside.
Ewers is draft eligible after this season. Most believed his plan was to declare for the NFL after wrapping up his junior campaign. That would open the door for Manning to take over the starting role in 2025.
Things have since become unclear. While the Longhorns went 11-2 and played for an SEC title, Ewers’ draft stock has fallen. Once considered a first-round pick, he now finds himself with a mid-round grade. His deep ball accuracy has been questioned as has his consistency.
With that in mind, whispers of a return to college have surfaced. Whether or not that would be at Texas remains uncertain. Steve Sarkisian did little to clear the air when asked about Quinn Ewers’ future in November, remaining mum on the subject.
There have been reports that the Longhorns are ready to move onto Arch Manning, even if Ewers decided to return for another college football season. For that reason, potential transfer destinations have become a talking point.
Notre Dame was linked to a high-profile QB in the portal earlier this week. Ewers’ name, meanwhile, was recently tied to a team in the Big Ten. His agent denied the assumption that he’s interested in a transfer. That would suggest it’s Texas or the NFL in 2025.
Arch Manning opened up on his Texas allegiance.
Arch Manning ain’t going anywhere, per Arch Manning 😂🤘 pic.twitter.com/qTAfopxFKT
— Rivals (@Rivals) December 30, 2024
With Ewers’ future unclear, Manning was asked about the transfer portal this week. He seems to have no desire to leave Austin. That only further fuels the rumors surrounding his teammate.
NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper gave his opinion of the situation during a recent appearance on ESPN. He believes Arch Manning is set to be “the guy.”
“Arch Manning is going to be the quarterback at Texas next year. So, if [Ewers] wants to play college football, you probably have to move on somewhere… I would not come out unless I really played phenomenal football in these playoff games and came into the draft process with tremendous momentum. I don’t want to become a second or third-round pick.”
-Mel Kiper
Kiper insists that a transfer is in Quinn Ewers’ best interest. The QB’s camp continues to nix that narrative. While his future in Austin is still murky, Texas can rest easy knowing that Arch Manning will be back under center in 2025.