After Texas narrowly edged out Arizona State in the Peach Bowl, they now face a formidable challenge: taking on the powerhouse that is the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Texas Longhorns are in a situation where they need to rethink their strategy if they’re to succeed, and a crucial decision at quarterback might be the key. The call for a switch from starter Quinn Ewers to Arch Manning could be the change that tips the scales in Texas’ favor.
Quinn Ewers and the Offensive Ques
Over the past few weeks, Texas’ aerial attack hasn’t exactly set the world on fire. The passing game has been lackluster, and it’s a pivotal problem they need to address to have any hope against Ohio State. Taking a look back at their clash with Georgia in the SEC Championship, Texas couldn’t find a rhythm in either the air or the ground game, and it began with Quinn Ewers’ performance under center. Ewers completed 27 of his 46 attempts, struggled with two interceptions, and made a series of questionable decisions that led to their downfall against Georgia.
In their subsequent game during the opening round of the College Football Playoff, Texas leaned heavily on their ground game to get past Clemson. It was a showcase of their running prowess, with two running backs each surpassing the 110-yard mark and scoring twice. Even though Ewers delivered a decent performance, throwing for 202 yards with a touchdown and an interception, it was obvious that the game plan was skewed heavily towards rushing, hinting at a lack of complete trust in Ewers’ decision-making ability.
Turning to their Peach Bowl victory over the Sun Devils, there were flashes of promise from Ewers as he connected with his open receivers and delivered several standout throws. Nonetheless, Arizona State managed to clamp down on him at points during the game. As they eye the Ohio State defense, which has been a juggernaut, adding a more dynamic element with Arch Manning could be the game-changer Texas needs. Manning’s dual-threat capability might just provide the spark the Longhorns need to break through Ohio State’s formidable wall.
Ohio State’s Defensive Prowess
Ohio State’s defense has been on an almost untouchable level recently, with standout performances against both Tennessee and Oregon. In their commanding Rose Bowl win over Oregon, the Buckeyes tallied eight sacks and 13 tackles for loss. They even managed to keep the Ducks to just 21 points, and that scoreline could have been even more flattering had Ohio State not eased up towards the end. Before that, in their playoff game against Tennessee, the Buckeyes registered another four sacks and six tackles for loss, showcasing a relentless defensive front against the mobile Nico Iamaleava.
For Texas to have a fighting chance against the Buckeyes, having a quarterback who can use his legs to create opportunities and evade pressure will be critical. This is where Arch Manning comes into focus. Throughout his limited appearances this season, Manning has shown his knack for making plays on the ground, tallying four rushing touchdowns and effectively converting short-yardage situations. To maximize their potential against Ohio State next weekend, rolling the dice with Arch Manning over Quinn Ewers could be Texas’ best shot at pulling off a Cotton Bowl upset.
After Texas narrowly edged out Arizona State in the Peach Bowl, they now face a formidable challenge: taking on the powerhouse that is the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Texas Longhorns are in a situation where they need to rethink their strategy if they’re to succeed, and a crucial decision at quarterback might be the key. The call for a switch from starter Quinn Ewers to Arch Manning could be the change that tips the scales in Texas’ favor.
Quinn Ewers and the Offensive Ques
Over the past few weeks, Texas’ aerial attack hasn’t exactly set the world on fire. The passing game has been lackluster, and it’s a pivotal problem they need to address to have any hope against Ohio State. Taking a look back at their clash with Georgia in the SEC Championship, Texas couldn’t find a rhythm in either the air or the ground game, and it began with Quinn Ewers’ performance under center. Ewers completed 27 of his 46 attempts, struggled with two interceptions, and made a series of questionable decisions that led to their downfall against Georgia.
In their subsequent game during the opening round of the College Football Playoff, Texas leaned heavily on their ground game to get past Clemson. It was a showcase of their running prowess, with two running backs each surpassing the 110-yard mark and scoring twice. Even though Ewers delivered a decent performance, throwing for 202 yards with a touchdown and an interception, it was obvious that the game plan was skewed heavily towards rushing, hinting at a lack of complete trust in Ewers’ decision-making ability.
Turning to their Peach Bowl victory over the Sun Devils, there were flashes of promise from Ewers as he connected with his open receivers and delivered several standout throws. Nonetheless, Arizona State managed to clamp down on him at points during the game. As they eye the Ohio State defense, which has been a juggernaut, adding a more dynamic element with Arch Manning could be the game-changer Texas needs. Manning’s dual-threat capability might just provide the spark the Longhorns need to break through Ohio State’s formidable wall.
Ohio State’s Defensive Prowess
Ohio State’s defense has been on an almost untouchable level recently, with standout performances against both Tennessee and Oregon. In their commanding Rose Bowl win over Oregon, the Buckeyes tallied eight sacks and 13 tackles for loss. They even managed to keep the Ducks to just 21 points, and that scoreline could have been even more flattering had Ohio State not eased up towards the end. Before that, in their playoff game against Tennessee, the Buckeyes registered another four sacks and six tackles for loss, showcasing a relentless defensive front against the mobile Nico Iamaleava.
For Texas to have a fighting chance against the Buckeyes, having a quarterback who can use his legs to create opportunities and evade pressure will be critical. This is where Arch Manning comes into focus. Throughout his limited appearances this season, Manning has shown his knack for making plays on the ground, tallying four rushing touchdowns and effectively converting short-yardage situations. To maximize their potential against Ohio State next weekend, rolling the dice with Arch Manning over Quinn Ewers could be Texas’ best shot at pulling off a Cotton Bowl upset.
