Heisman for Quinn Ewers? What Win at Alabama Means to Longhorns

Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers answered the call against Alabama with a performance that was certainly Heisman-like.

Regardless of the hype that now surrounds them following Saturday's 34-24 road win over No. 3 Alabama, the Texas Longhorns have an entire season ahead to prove if they truly belong among college football's elite.

But for Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, Heisman Trophy campaigns have to start somewhere. And despite an offseason that was full of questions and uncertainty from fans, he eliminated nearly all doubt and potentially planted his Heisman seeds on the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium in the process.

"We knew this whole week if we came in here, we were going to ball out. We were going to try to make them quit," Ewers said on ESPN's postgame. "God is so good. I can't say nothing else. How much God has put me through, he's made me so strong. I'm so proud of my team, my whole defense, we balled out. I'm fired up for the rest of the way."

On a night where Texas coach Steve Sarkisian's passing-game aggression put tons of responsibility on the shoulders of the young quarterback, Ewers answered the call with a performance that was Heisman-like considering the opponent, environment and early-season stakes. Regardless of whether or not he actually overcomes the unlikely odds to win the award, it's hard to deny his performance puts him in the early conversation.

© Gary Cosby Jr., USA TODAY

Heisman campaigns are often defined by big-time wins over championship-level opponents under the brightest of lights, but the numbers have to be elite too. 

Ewers checked that box on Saturday, as he finished 24 of 38 passing for 349 yards, three touchdowns and no turnovers. He added three carries for 11 yards and even made his first-career catch after snagging a deflected pass and running it for three yards.

"I just came out here with the mindset to attack their defense," Ewers said after the win.

Thanks to Ewers' impressive night, the Longhorns now find themselves (for now) within an elite tier of teams looking to make a run to the College Football Playoff. But while the win should mean everything to Texas considering that the program has been looking for a decade-long bounce back, it could mean even more to Ewers' Heisman legitimacy if he continues to play at a high level.

The Longhorns should know better not to get too ahead of themselves after a moment of success. The same goes for Ewers, though his cut-and-dry approach and stone-walled demeanor makes it hard to imagine he'll get a big head.

Regardless, the talk surrounding his second full season at Texas has now undoubtedly crept into Heisman territory. Whether or not it will stay that way obviously remains to be seen.