Texas Coach Steve Sarkisian Says Quinn Ewers, Arch Manning Are Not in QB Competition

The Longhorns coach made it clear who his team’s starter is.

When talking to reporters on Wednesday, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian made his team’s quarterback situation clear for 2024: Quinn Ewers will be the team’s starter. 

The Longhorns coach told the college football world that Ewers and Arch Manning are not in a quarterback competition, so the second-year signal-caller will spend next season once again on the bench.

“Quinn’s our starter,” Sarkisian said.

“I don’t think that Quinn was a finished product yet. And I think there’s there’s plenty of room for growth and improvement in development in his game, going into year three,” the coach said. “I do think his experience, his maturity are all going to be things he can benefit from.”

Manning, the nephew of former NFL quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning, was a five-star recruit out of Isidore Newman in New Orleans and has been surrounded by high expectations for some time. But fans shouldn’t expect him to take over the program anytime soon. 

Meanwhile, Ewers has proven to be one of the best quarterbacks in the country. He completed 69% of his passes in 2023 for 3,479 yards and 22 touchdowns to six interceptions while leading the team to a 12–2 record. 

Quarterbacks Quinn Ewers (3) and Arch Manning (16) talk during the first Texas football practice of 2023 at the Frank Denius Fields :: Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman/USA TODAY Network

The Longhorns made a College Football Playoff appearance but were eliminated in the Sugar Bowl by Washington. With another year at the helm, Ewers will look to lead Texas to its first national championship since the 2005 season.