Steve Sarkisian: Quinn Ewers 'shows up in these types of games'

Quinn Ewers returned to action against Oklahoma last weekend, but he’ll have a whole different type of animal opposing him in Week 8, when Texas welcomes Georgia to Austin.

Ahead of the showdown, Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian joined ESPN College GameDay, where he elaborated on why he’s expecting his quarterback to show up in a big way on Saturday evening, as that’s just what Ewers does when the lights are the brightest.

“One thing I’ve learned about Quinn in our three years together, he shows up in these types of games,” Sarkisian said, regarding his quarterback. “I think that’s a byproduct of his preparation. We’ve gotten this guy now, into year three, where he kind of thinks like me.

“We had our meeting last night, we went through that call sheet of the things he likes, the things I like and when they start to be synchronized that way, I feel pretty good about it.”

Over the course of his collegiate career, Ewers certainly hasn’t shied away from the spotlight. He’s gone on the road to places like Tuscaloosa and Ann Arbor and won big games, so a showdown with the Bulldogs in Austin will feel like a normal Saturday for him.

As long as Quinn Ewers can stay healthy, Steve Sarkisian knows Texas can be special in 2024. They’ve already proven to be among the best in college football, and a win over Georgia in Week 8 can put them firmly atop the sport at this moment in time.

Steve Sarkisian addresses Quinn Ewers’ Heisman Trophy chances after injury

Moreover, Quinn Ewers was one of the leading Heisman Trophy candidates before an injury forced him to miss a couple of games. He made his return last week to lead Texas to a win in the Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma, and now the question remains how much his absence will affect his chances going forward. 

Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian believes it’s still very much possible if Texas can finish the year undefeated. However, he made sure to emphasize that if Ewers is invited to the Heisman ceremony, it would be in part because of his teammates that helped him get there.

“I think individual accolades, awards, honors are a byproduct of team success,” Sarkisian said. “So if he’s in New York in December, it’s probably because we’ve won a lot of games and maybe won every game. I don’t think that we should feel that it’s about what Quinn does. Yes, we need to win. And if we’re gonna win, it probably means he played pretty well in some pretty big games. 

“I think at the end, that’s the reality. But there’s a lot of work to be done between now and then. But we have a firm belief around here that team success is what promotes individual accolades, awards and honors.”

Ewers looked sharp in his return to action against the Sooners on Saturday. He finished 20-of-29 passing for 199 yards and a touchdown with one interception, also running in another TD for score. 

On3’s Chandler Vessels contributed to this article.