(This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.)
ARLINGTON — Quinn Ewers told ESPN’s “College GameDay” on Friday that he doesn’t expect to play another college football season.
If he doesn’t change his mind, he will go down as a solid college quarterback who was a central figure in Texas football’s reemergence as a national power. Unfortunately, the Texas quarterback’s last pivotal play will go down as the gut punch that ended the Longhorns‘ national title hopes.
His old Ohio State roomate Jack Sawyer’s strip sack and 83-yard fumble return with 2:13 left in the game effectively eliminated the Longhorns from the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff in the 28-14 Cotton Bowl slugfest.
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Ewers (23 of 39 for 283 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception) played well against the best defense in the country, but he took a blindside hit from the Buckeyes‘ edge rusher on a fourth-and-goal play from the 8-yard line. And just like that, it was over.
“It’s the life of a competitor,” Ewers said. “It sucks to be on the other side of this.”
The Horns are back among the big boys in college football even if the season didn’t end with them in the winner’s circle in Atlanta. They twice overcame seven-point deficits to tie the Buckeyes, but played a game without leading for just the second time this season, the other being the 30-15 home loss to Georgia.
While Texas finishes at 13-3, the 13-2 Buckeyes will play the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the national title game on Jan. 20 in Atlanta.
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The Horns had all the momentum thanks to a splendid third quarter, even after one of the most dependable defenses in school history gave up a 75-yard touchdown to fleet-footed running back TreVeyon Henderson to end the first half. That run came after Texas’ offense scrapped tooth and nail to tie it 7-7.
The Longhorns emerged from the locker room to play one of their most-spirted 12 minutes of the season. Linebacker David Gbenda nabbed an interception to halt an Ohio State opening drive and then made a tackle for no gain to end the Buckeyes’ next drive. Ewers found Jaydon Blue with a second touchdown pass to tie the game 14-14.
Coach Steve Sarkisian will question the decision to run a toss sweep to running back Quintrevion Wisner on second-and-goal from the 2, resulting in a 6-yard loss. Two plays later, the season was over.
The Horns will enter the 2025 season with a new quarterback in Arch Manning and a roster that will lose All-American cornerback Jahdae Barron along with left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. Safety Michael Taaffe may come back, but he is getting high marks from scouts.
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