Quinn Ewers: Steve Sarkisian has brought a winning culture back to Texas

Texas‘ voyage into the College Football Playoff last season isn’t expected to be a one-off occurrence. Especially given the expanded format, the Longhorns will enter the 2024 season as a favorite to find itself in the first-ever field of 12.

Fans can thank Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian for reviving the Longhorns and bringing the program back on a national stage, according to quarterback Quinn Ewers.

“I think that he has brought a winning culture back to this university, and I think that’s the main thing,” Ewers said on a recent appearance on ‘RGIII And The Ones.’ “I mean, the way that we practice and the way that we work out — I don’t think there’s another team in the country that takes more pride and how hard we practice. And I believe that.”

Under Sarkisian’s guide, Texas finished 12-2 last season, seeing the Longhorns win the Big 12 Championship in their final year in the conference and making it to the College Football Playoffs for the first time in program history. However, Texas would come up short against Washington in the semifinals to end their dreams of a national championship. The Huskies would lose to Michigan in the national championship game.

Before the 2023 season, Texas had finished 13-12 over the first two seasons that Sarkisian led the program. However, now that his initial recruiting classes have matured and since Texas has become a landing spot for stars out of the transfer portal, it appears that the winning culture in Austin is here to stay with Sarkisian leading the charge.

For Ewers, he helped create Texas’ success last season from under center as he finished his sophomore year with career-highs across the board. Completing 69 percent (272-394) of his passes, Ewers threw for 3,479 yards and 22 touchdowns compared to six interceptions. Expectations remain the same, if not higher for Ewers entering what many consider as his final season at the collegiate level.

He’ll have to continue on that path if Texas wants to see similar success right away in the SEC. Matchups against Oklahoma, Georgia, Florida, Texas A&M — not to mention a non-conference matchup against the reigning national champion Michigan Wolverines during Week 2, Ewers and the Longhorns will have their hands full in its first year in their new conference.

However, Texas will begin its 2024 regular season during Week 1 on Aug. 31 at home against Colorado State.