Quinn Ewers admits Texas' playoff loss 'left a dry taste in our mouth'

Quinn Ewers wants to get Texas’ playoff loss back in 2024. It left quite a bitter feeling knowing the Longhorns were that close to a national championship appearance.

Ewers is back under center this fall and ready to lead Texas to new heights, this time in the SEC. Texas certainly has the ability to get back to the playoff and make a run to a national title this time around.

Ewers was honest about the motivating factor from last season.

“We kind of know what it takes to get where we want to go and what more we need to do,” Ewers said, via ESPN. “Obviously, it wasn’t enough, so we know we need to take that extra step whether it’s on the field or off the field, but it definitely left a dry taste in our mouth.”

Ewers finished the 2023 campaign with 3,479 yards, 22 touchdowns, six interceptions and a 69% completion percentage.

He’s still ahead of former top prospect Arch Manning, but head coach Steve Sarkisian is hyped about his quarterback room and the balance between the two.

“I don’t take that for granted,” Sarkisian said on College Sports Radio on Sirius XM. “You know, there’s a lot of other schools out there with one guy and what happens if something happens to him? So again, we’re in a good spot and those guys are working hard, doing a great job and I think their rapport together, you know, the way they work together and push each other and make each other better. The relationship they have is very healthy.”

As far as the scrimmage for both quarterbacks, Ewers was awesome according to Sarkisian. If he didn’t have all of that experience under his belt, Ewers and Manning might’ve been in the hottest quarterback battle.

“Last Saturday we had a pretty extensive scrimmage, about 130 plays and I thought Quinn really played lights out,” Sarkisian said. “And it’s, you know, we’ve got a ton of new faces in that receiver room and in the tight end room. So it’s been a little bit of a work in progress of getting that rapport. Guys are working hard and we’re trying to get all that done. But I thought Quinn played at a really high level.”

The playoff run will take a bit more this season considering it’s a 12-team bracket. Ewers will be the biggest key to Texas taking the next step.