After toiling in mediocrity for more than a decade, No. 3 Texas finally returned to college football’s upper echelon in 2023. However, those familiar with the Longhorn fanbase understand that conference title and a 37-31 College Football Playoff loss to No. 2 Washington is going to do more to whet the appetite for success around the program than quench it.
Just minutes after the heartbreaking defeat to the Huskies, many were already turning their attention to next year. If Texas wants to return to the College Football Playoff, it will have to do so while traversing its first-ever SEC schedule. Perhaps the biggest unknown amid all of that is whether quarterback Quinn Ewers will still be the driving force of Texas’ offense as it sets out on its inaugural journey through what has been college football’s best conference over the past 15 years.
Ewers is eligible for the NFL Draft after enjoying a breakout campaign in 2023 but hasn’t made a decision on that front. He did appear to drop some hints after Texas’ Sugar Bowl loss, implying he may be leaning toward one more go-around on the Forty Acres before embarking on a pro career.
“I’m a human being and I understand what’s ahead,” Ewers told reporters. “But I know that we’re going to work as hard as we can to try to be back. And that’s all we can really do, is attack the offseason the right way and just continue to build this team to what it’s capable of being.”
Texas needs Ewers’ experience
While many are waiting with bated breath for the dawn of the Arch Manning era in Austin, Texas, another year of an Ewers-led Texas offense might just be what the Longhorns need to successfully navigate their SEC debut and return to the College Football Playoff.
Attrition is already inevitable for a…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/why-quinn-ewers-returning-in-2024-would-give-texas-best-chance-at-college-football-playoff-redemption/
Author : Dean Straka
Publish date : 2024-01-02 20:25:06
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