On Saturday, No. 1 Texas fell down 20–0 to No. 5 Georgia in one of the most hotly anticipated college football games of the season. The Longhorns desperately needed a spark.
Instead, coach Steve Sarkisian summoned an inferno.
Sarkisian stunned the college football world by inserting quarterback Arch Manning as a replacement for Quinn Ewers, igniting a quarterback controversy where almost none had previously existed. Manning had relieved Ewers when the latter was injured earlier this season, but this was something altogether different: a seemingly healthy Ewers seemingly being benched for a subpar performance against the Bulldogs.
College football fans and observers had a lot to say about an event many thought wouldn't happen in 2024.
Some questioned the move.
I get needing a spark, but this wasn't on Ewers and it's not even halftime yet. https://t.co/RPBB7EJcDM
— José? (@elJGY) October 20, 2024
Some embraced it.
Should have been in from the start https://t.co/d2ugQ6N5Nt
— Teez (@oTeezz_) October 20, 2024
Many questioned whether Ewers had viability as a top-tier NFL prospect after this.
RIP Ewers draft stock https://t.co/nIp7ihlP4L
— Garrett G (@garrettgough) October 20, 2024
Even as Ewers started to struggle, the whispers began.
Arch Manning looking at Quinn Ewers rn pic.twitter.com/Ox6dxuqwDT
— Sās (@The_Black_Kevin) October 20, 2024
Clamoring for Manning was not limited to fans, however; those tasked with covering Texas expressed similar thoughts.
If you need some QB run game, it has to be Arch. It must be Arch. https://t.co/UPm1Rur6iE
— Brian Davis (@byBDavis) October 20, 2024
Other fanbase immediately began willing Ewers into the transfer portal.
Quinn, we would welcome you in Ann Arbor #Wolverines https://t.co/eoExY4DG2v pic.twitter.com/budaYZkGM9
— Loveland Magazine Sports Desk (@LovelandSportsG) October 20, 2024
The question, for many, what was kind of chaos Sarkisian would stir up with his decision.
https://t.co/KiOjH1RqAN pic.twitter.com/LW7XBdR1e1
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) October 20, 2024
We'll all just have to wait to find out.
Jaw is on my living room floor https://t.co/DeM4f5QuyB
— J.D. PicKell (@jdpickell) October 20, 2024
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as College Football World Rocked By Arch Manning Coming in for Quinn Ewers vs. Georgia.
