Arch Manning: Social media calling for Texas QB after Quinn Ewers struggles in Red River Rivalry

Arch Manning returned to his role as Texas’s backup quarterback behind Quinn Ewers for Saturday’s Red River Rivalry between the Longhorns and Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl.

Ewers and Texas came out on the short end in last year’s Red River Rivalry vs. Oklahoma despite a strong performance from the Longhorns quarterback. As the Longhorns and Sooners resumed their long-time series, now as members of the SEC, it could not be going much worse for him just 3 drives into the game.

On the Longhorns’ first possession, Ewers took a sack, then threw an interception to the Sooners’ Billy Bowman 2 plays later. The next two drives didn’t fare much better as the Longhorns went 3-and-out on both occasions.

Ewers’s stat line: 2-of-4 for 8 yards. Texas recorded 0 first downs and managed just 8 yards of total offense on its initial 3 possessions. But it did eventually pick up a first down — its first of the game — on its fourth time with the ball as Ewers connected with DeAndre Moore early in the 2nd quarter.

To put things in perspective, Ewers hadn’t played since a win against UTSA on Sept. 14, with Arch Manning filling in impressively. But in a pivotal game against the Sooners, Steve Sarkisian opted to return to his incumbent starter.

In the eyes of the social media crowd, that was a mistake. There’s still plenty of game remaining, but the calls for Manning instead of Ewers are present. Here’s a sampling from some of the reaction from Texas fans — and others from across the college football landscape — watching the game:

Get Quinn Ewers out and put Arch Manning in should be 14-3 already in this game.

— Stetson Sports (@StettySports) October 12, 2024

Arch manning on the bench watching Quinn ewers throw a pick 20 seconds Into the game pic.twitter.com/qqeydcymPz

— John (@iam_johnw) October 12, 2024

https://twitter.com/GrownFolk_llc/status/1845198321864016142

Put in Arch Manning!

— Harrison (@Will_No_Smith) October 12, 2024

Is it Arch Manning time yet? pic.twitter.com/Ng9K0xcKal

— CT (@cthomas1006) October 12, 2024

Arch Manning on the sideline pic.twitter.com/ozGTikV8dK

— . (@nahitsjustmike) October 12, 2024

Does literally anybody think Ewers is better than Arch Manning? Why are we putting on this facade that it’s a normal thing for Texas to play the worse quarterback? Give Arch the keys. It’s time.

— Casual Fanatic (@CasualFanatic_) October 12, 2024

Texas QB Quinn Ewers is a good football player. No doubt. He’s a little rusty.

BUT HOW did they move off of Arch Manning with the way he was playing.

Coaching mismanagement.

— DJ (@thedeejjj) October 12, 2024

https://twitter.com/MrSelfMade80/status/1845197214420791613

I’ve seen enough, put Arch Manning in the ball game

— Andrew Klein (@dilly_burner) October 12, 2024

Arch Manning to Sark after the Quinn Ewers pick pic.twitter.com/eh0V7YWUMZ

— Ben Young (@benjohnyoung) October 12, 2024

Sydney Hunte

Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.