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Steve Sarkisian reveals decision timeline for naming Texas QB for Mississippi State game

FaceProfileby:Thomas Goldkamp•09/26/24
Texas QBs Arch Manning, Quinn Ewers
Scott Wachter | Imagn Images

Texas will not name its starting quarterback for the SEC opener against Mississippi State on Thursday, head coach Steve Sarkisian announced. Sarkisian plans to decide on a starter on Friday, which means fans might not know a starter until gameday.

Arch Manning started the team’s previous contest against Louisiana-Monroe with starter Quinn Ewers sidelined by an abdominal injury he suffered a week prior. Ewers status has remained up in the air as a result of the injury.

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“We’re going to decide on the quarterback thing tomorrow,” Sarkisian said. “And again, it won’t be a secret. We’re not trying to pull the wool over anybody’s eyes, we just want to give Quinn every opportunity to see if he’s ready to play and what he looks like.

“But I’d say he’s improved every day. I think Arch has had a very good week. And I would say this: Trey Owens probably had his best practice as a Longhorn today, so that was really encouraging as well.”

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Texas should be in capable hands either way.

Arch Manning, the former No. 1 overall recruit in the nation, threw for 258 yards and two touchdowns against the Warhawks last week, though he also threw two interceptions. He didn’t have much of an impact running the football, though he’s certainly capable.

In three games this season, Arch Manning has gone 29-of-47 passing for 576 yards and seven touchdowns, against two interceptions. He has also run for 49 yards and two scores.

Ewers was listed as questionable on the team’s injury report filed with the SEC on Wednesday evening. He was originally injured in the second quarter of a game against UTSA and has not played since.

Sarkisian had previously indicated Ewers would need to check off every box in order to play for Texas this weekend.

“He’s got to do enough to show me he can play,” Sarkisian said on Monday. “I know that’s probably not the answer you wanted, but that’s what I mean. We’ve got a game plan. Can he execute the game plan? I hate to pare it down to that but that’s really the truth. I want to make sure he’s healthy enough to play at a high level. Can he go operate the game plan we have in place for him?

“That’s why I need to see how he responds from today’s work, and then what it looks like on a Tuesday then a Wednesday, which are pretty heavy days for him. Then, how he rebounds on a Thursday, so on and so forth.”