Dan Orlovsky states Quinn Ewers' composure 'saved Texas' season' vs. Arizona State

The Texas Longhorns had their backs against the wall, trying to survive an upset bid against the Arizona State Sun Devils in the Peach Bowl. Still, the Longhorns were able to survive and advance in the College Football Playoff, largely thanks to the play of quarterback Quinn Ewers.

The morning following the Peach Bowl, Dan Orlovsky and EJ Manuel, both former quarterbacks themselves, praised Ewers on Get Up. In particular, Orlovsky claimed that he saved Texas’ season.

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“Quinn Ewers’ composure saved Texas’ season,” Orlovsky said. “After that fourth quarter interception and the mounting comeback by Arizona State, he goes 11 of 14 for 160 yards and a 96 QBR.”

Ewers has plenty of experience, starting the last three years at Texas under head coach Steve Sarkisian. However, with Arch Manning sitting behind him, there is a ton of pressure to perform well. He was up to that task in overtime when the Longhorns had a 4th and 13 and needed a touchdown.

“4th and 13…the fact that he gets to the line of scrimmage, he sees the blitz coming. He controls everything, calms everybody on the offense down, changes the whole play, and then takes their shot downfield is huge. I think the experience that he has, all the snaps in college football paid off because in that moment, everything is in front of you. The weight of the world and that fan base is in front of you, and that paid off for them,” Orlovsky said.

“The fact that that much-maligned player and his composure and his ability to become, I was really fascinated just sitting there watching it. Sark was just calling 4th down like this like it was 1st and 10…Quinn’s at the line and that was my biggest takeaway was them being ready for that moment and the moment not being too big for them.”

Ewers finished the game completing 20-of-30 passes for 322 yards, three passing touchdowns, and a rushing touchdown. He did have a costly interception in the fourth quarter, though. It was a performance that impressed Manuel as well.

“Quinn Ewers said, you guys think Arch Manning should be the starter, all this sort of stuff that goes on throughout the course of a season. He goes in and he just lights up,” Manuel said. “I feel like he played extremely fast. I feel like Coach Sarkisian also called a great game for him to get to get going fast. But some of these throws, late in the game I’ve been in situations like that, you’ve got to have ice water in your veins and that’s exactly what Quinn Ewers had. Then, you’re with your all-world left tackle and he gets a false start, takes you back five more yards to fourth and 13 to keep the game going after you’ve been leading all game. You’re down against Arizona State. You’ve got all the momentum and he ices it with that throw to Matthew Golden.”

“Also, the ability to run the football, we’ve known he’s had a bad ankle and an oblique and he solid it all out there on the field. Dove in there for a touchdown. I love the way Quinn Ewers played. I’m telling you, in the back of his mind, when you know, if I don’t play well, Arch Manning might be that guy that comes in because we talk about it all the time here, you know how it is. You know the fan base is waiting for Arch Manning to come out there and play. I feel like Quinn Ewers continued to answer the bell and played extremely well yesterday.”

With the win, Ewers and Texas move to the College Football Playoff semifinals. There, they’ll be tested by the Ohio State Buckeyes, Ewers’ former program.