DALLAS -- Texas safety Jahdae Barron found a tank top covered in images of quarterback Quinn Ewers on Instagram and knew immediately he had to have it. Having ordered it before the Longhorns' Week 2 win over Michigan, Barron kept it in his back pocket for the best moment to break it out. Ewers' return for the Red River Rivalry felt right.
"It was perfect to wear the day he gets back," Barron said following a 34-3 dismantling. "He was 20 for 29, 200 yards. We love him. We love him."
Ask anyone around the program and you'll get the same answer: Quinn is Texas' quarterback. The team believes in him. For fans, however, the answer has been a little less emphatic.
While Texas was ultimately able to pull away from Oklahoma, Ewers' play was initially lackluster. For only the third time since 2023, Ewers failed to reach 200 yards passing (Barron rounded up, Ewers finished with 199 yards). He previously failed to eclipse that total against Texas Tech and Wyoming because he was pulled early in decisive wins.
The first quarter against the Sooners was especially rough. The fourth-year player connected on only 3 of 5 passes for 13 yards and an interception. The Longhorns failed to get a first down in the period and Oklahoma set up two scoring opportunities off the slow start.
"Overall, I think I need to play better ... I should have definitely made those throws," Ewers said. "I'm not going to say it's rust because I've practiced the last two weeks. That's just solely on me."
Ewers may not admit it, but the rust was obvious from the press box of the Cotton Bowl. From the start, Oklahoma confused him with pressure looks, and he was tentative getting the ball out. Perhaps the most egregious was a short-armed throw to WR Isaiah Bond with pressure in his face that would have gone for a touchdown if the pass was on target.
Frankly, Texas might have played better against Oklahoma with touted backup quarterback Arch Manning in the lineup. In 10 quarters of action after Ewers' abdominal injury this year, Manning accounted for 10 touchdowns and compiled 888 total yards.
Ultimately, though, Ewers is the present at Texas for a reason.
The former No. 1 recruit led Texas to its first Big 12 championship in 15 years and a trip to the College Football Playoff last season. He nearly outdueled Michael Penix Jr. in the Sugar Bowl semifinal, just missing on a potential game-winning throw. He's an assassin in the short and intermediate passing game and creates mismatches with his consistency. Getting him back to 100% gives Texas its best chance to win, even if it has to work through some rust.
Most significantly, Ewers has been at his best in big games. In a road win against Michigan, he decimated the Wolverines for 246 yards and three touchdowns. Last season at Alabama, he threw for 349 yards and three touchdowns against a Nick Saban-led defense.
Manning played well against UTSA, ULM and Mississippi State, but no coach in the country is throwing away the experience and leadership Ewers brings to the table for a freshman.
The other side of the Red River Rivalry was a perfect example why. Oklahoma freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. played well against Tennessee and Auburn. Against Texas, however, he was suffocated and threw for just 148 yards on 4.9 yards per attempt. Oklahoma's offense failed to reach the end zone in the rivalry for the second time in three years. When the Sooners had veteran quarterback Dillon Gabriel leading the way last season, he made all the right plays to key the upset.
And after his slow start, Ewers completed 71% of his passes for 186 yards and a touchdown over the final three quarters while Texas went on a 34-0 run. In the decisive 21-0 run over the second quarter, he threw for 109 yards, including a pass-back touchdown to tight end Gunner Helm. Ewers later rushed for another.
Ewers absolutely needs to be better against No. 5 Georgia in the biggest game at Darrell K. Royal Stadium since 2006. The matchup could prove to be a play-in for the SEC Championship Game and could launch Ewers back into the Heisman discussion.
More importantly, Texas comes into the second half of the season with legitimate national championship aspirations. The last redshirt freshman to lead his team to a national championship was Trevor Lawrence in 2018. Every other since then was an upperclassman. Outside of ex-Alabama QB Mac Jones, who waited his turn for three years, every title-winning quarterback was a multi-year starter, too.
Ewers gives the 'Horns the best chance to win. Bet on experience.
