The Longhorns coaching staff revealed their thoughts on who would start this weekend

The Texas Longhorns are set for its highly anticipated SEC debut, but the focus isn’t entirely on the new conference rivalry-it’s on a brewing quarterback controversy that could shape the Longhorns’ season. Quinn Ewers, the starting quarterback, is still questionable after suffering an oblique strain, leaving the door open for a potential start by Arch Manning.

Manning, who saw significant action for the first time last week, may find himself at the helm again as Texas prepares to face Mississippi State on Saturday. This comes after an impressive debut that has fans buzzing, but not without questions. Ewers’ uncertain status leaves the Longhorns’ strategy hanging in the balance, a situation head coach Steve Sarkisian acknowledged earlier this week.

“Ewers still has to show me he’s ready. He needs to execute the game plan consistently before I can be sure he’s good to go,” Sarkisian said Monday. While optimism surrounds Ewers’ progress, Sarkisian emphasized the day-by-day nature of his recovery, hinting that Texas is preparing Manning just in case. “It’s a work in progress,” Sarkisian added.

When Ewers went down in Week 3, Manning was thrown into the action. On his very first play, the young quarterback delivered, tossing a touchdown pass with the poise of a seasoned veteran. The excitement only built from there, as Manning followed up with a jaw-dropping 67-yard touchdown run. His performance helped Texas secure a blowout win over Louisiana-Monroe in Week 4, but it wasn’t without its rough patches.

Manning‘s statistics from that game-a 15-of-29 passing performance with two touchdowns and two interceptions-painted a picture of a talented yet unpolished player. His first interception came almost immediately, raising eyebrows among critics. However, Sarkisian was quick to defend the freshman quarterback. “A lot of young quarterbacks struggle early. What’s important is how you respond, and Arch showed resilience,” Sarkisian explained.

A pivotal game looms large

As Texas gears up for its SEC debut against Mississippi State, the focus is split between the team’s upcoming challenge and the uncertainty surrounding who will lead them on the field. Mississippi State comes into the contest with a disappointing 1-3 record, giving Texas what should be a manageable start to its SEC journey. But that’s hardly the focus.

Texas fans, eager for their team to make a statement in their first SEC appearance, now find themselves wondering if it will be Manning or Ewers leading the charge. Manning’s debut last week proved he has the talent, but is he ready for the elevated pressure of conference play? Ewers, on the other hand, remains a question mark, with Sarkisian leaving little clarity about his condition.

If Ewers does sit out this week, Texas will get some relief in the schedule with a bye week after the Mississippi State game. However, that brief respite will lead straight into a brutal stretch featuring matchups against No. 21 Oklahoma and No. 2 Georgia. For now, the team and its fans must anxiously wait to see who will take the first snap this Saturday.