Quinn Ewers or Arch Manning? Neither. Texas’ playoff success depends on its duo of running backs
For most of the season, the No. 5-seeded Texas Longhorns have been clouded by a quarterback controversy that has only seemed to exist outside of the team facility. Despite junior Quinn Ewers having thrown for 8,523 yards in his three seasons as the starter in Austin, some fans and analysts have pleaded for sophomore Arch Manning to take over.
Is it a justified conversation?
On one hand, Ewers has flashed NFL traits with his pin-point accuracy in the short-to-intermediate game that sees the ball come out of unanticipated arm angles, but his downfield mistakes and inability to consistently face pressure can sometimes cause the Texas offense to stall out and remain stagnant over the course of a few drives at a time.
While Manning is largely unproven – aside from a two-game stretch as a fill-in for an injured Ewers earlier in the year that saw him throw for 583 yards and four touchdowns – the potential that resides in the family name alone has Darrell K. Royal-Memorial Stadium erupt in unison each time he steps on the field. In Saturday’s 38-24 first-round playoff win over Clemson, that happened three times in front of the 101,150 Longhorn faithful in attendance.
Ewers or Manning, that conversation can be had.
And maybe when it’s all said and done, there may be more clarity on what the right answer was all along. But in regards to Texas’ playoff chances – the Longhorns advance to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals into a matchup against No. 4-seed Arizona State – neither star quarterback’s right arm will be the difference in Texas hosting its first national championship trophy since 2005.
That responsibility will fall on running backs Quintrevion Wisner and Jaydon Blue.
After a fall camp that saw starter Cedric Baxter Jr. and expected true freshman contributor Christian Clark each go down with torn ACLs, the running game responsibilities were put into the hands of the sophomore Wisner and junior Blue.
Blue has had big moments in his Texas career, including a 38-yard touchdown run in the first quarter of Saturday’s win that gave Texas the lead for good, and a 77-yard explosion in the fourth quarter that pulled Texas away. While untimely turnovers in big games, including a fumble in Texas’ 2023 playoff loss to Washington, have been a thorn in the offense’s side, Blue has begun to show consistency at the perfect time.
But even when he hasn’t been able to provide reliable yards, Wisner has.
In the nine games since the team’s week five bye, Texas is 5-0 when Wisner accounts for more than 100 scrimmage yards. In games that he doesn’t, the Longhorns are 2-2. In the two losses to new SEC nemesis Georgia, Wisner has averaged just 64.5 total yards behind an offensive line that hasn’t yet had an answer for the Bulldogs through eight-plus quarters.
On Saturday, head coach Steve Sarkisian turned to Wisner early and often to establish momentum against the ACC-champion Clemson Tigers, understanding his importance to an offense that badly needed to sustain drives against a methodical Clemson offensive attack.
On an opening drive that lasted 12 plays and over six minutes of game time, Wisner accounted for 37 yards with a three-yard plunge into the end zone to cap it off. On the second drive, the product of DeSoto High School added 20 more yards to set up the 38-yard Blue score.
Later on as Texas was looking to get off the ropes of a Clemson comeback attempt that pulled the Longhorn lead from 21 down to seven, Blue gave the home sideline a huge jolt. On an outside zone run to the right, Blue made one cut and went untouched from 77 yards out to give one final burnt orange haymaker to Clemson.
“The story of the game is us finding the run game offensively,” head coach Steve Sarkisian said. “When you have two 100-yard rushers in the game, establish ourselves and create balance offensively, I thought it was critical to the game.”
Blue’s second half emergence was timely. After coming down awkwardly on his right leg on a reception at the end of the first half, Wisner was used sparingly in the final two frames. Fortunately for Sarkisian, Blue was up to the task as he finished the night with 177 total yards and two touchdowns to complement Wisner’s 110 yards and two scores.
“I gave him a big hug and told him how proud I was of him,” Sarkisian. “We talked about individual adversity last night as well. And to think about that young man and the ankle injury earlier in the season, having some fumble issues, but continuing to practice well and be a good teammate.”
“For him to have the night he had tonight, I’m just really proud of him.”
However far Texas travels in the College Football Playoff is certainly dependent on the mistakes, or successes, of Quinn Ewers. There’s no doubt.
But if the argument is that Arch Manning gives the Longhorns the best chance to win in January, there’s just something about that sentiment that misses the point.
Because if the Longhorns find themselves standing alone at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta next month, it won’t be because of who is or isn’t behind center. It’ll be because of who is next to him.
This story was originally published December 21, 2024 at 6:38 PM.
