Steve Sarkisian names starting QB between Quinn Ewers, Arch Manning following Georgia loss

When Quinn Ewers was taken out of the Georgia game in the first half, Arch Manning stepped in and questions immediately began. Could a quarterback controversy be brewing in Austin? While Steve Sarkisian had been clear on where the QB situation stands, he went off his usual script by benching Ewers.

Manning got two drives in the first half before not playing in the second half. Ewers was the guy to see out the game as Texas fell 30-15 at home. Next up for Texas is Vanderbilt on the road and No. 3 will still be the guy starting for the Longhorns moving forward according to Sarkisian.

“Quinn’s our starting quarterback,” Sarkisian said in his postgame press conference. “I appreciate the fact we’re fortunate enough to have a backup like Arch that could come into the game and provide a spark in some sense. At the end of the day, Quinn’s our starter. I think, like I said, we’ve got to do a better job around him. I think he would tell you he can play better, but we’ve got to coach better. Everybody’s got to be better for our offense to perform better.”

Sarkisian was asked about the decision by the ESPN broadcast at halftime, saying at the time, Ewers needed to settle down on the sideline. The same, although with more expanded thoughts, came from Sarkisian when speaking postgame. Getting Ewers into the locker room to regroup was the main purpose of the move.

“My feeling in the game was I felt Quinn was a little uneasy,” Sarkisian said. “I felt like giving him a chance to kind of step back and regroup. I didn’t know if we’d get a series or two with Arch depending on how much time was remaining in the half on the clock.

“So we told Quinn we’re going to go with Arch here and give you a chance to get into the locker room. Let’s regroup and then come back out in the second half, and so that’s what we did. I felt like it was effective. Quinn came out and played a much better second half and played well in the third quarter.