In the fall of 2024, the football world was rocked by the unexpected moves of two of college football’s most talked-about quarterbacks: Arch Manning and Quinn Ewers. The quarterback carousel at the University of Texas, which had been dominated by speculation and expectation, took a dramatic turn, reshaping the trajectory of both players’ futures.
The Longhorns’ season had ended on a high note, with Quinn Ewers guiding Texas to the Big 12 Championship and a strong run in the College Football Playoff. But as the final whistle blew, Ewers made a decision that stunned everyone. Despite his successful season and undeniable potential, he announced he would return for his final year of eligibility in 2024, putting aside his aspirations for the NFL Draft. The Texas faithful were ecstatic—Ewers was the embodiment of the Longhorns’ resurgence under head coach Steve Sarkisian, and his return would solidify Texas as a preseason contender for the national title.
But lurking in the wings was the young Arch Manning, the crown jewel of the 2023 recruiting class and the heir apparent to the Texas quarterback throne. Manning, a five-star prospect from New Orleans, had been groomed for greatness in a family with a legacy of NFL quarterbacks. He had entered the program with the weight of that legacy on his shoulders, but also with a quiet determination to forge his own path. His freshman year had been a quiet one—mostly spent learning the ropes behind Ewers, observing, and waiting for his opportunity.
However, as the offseason progressed, Manning’s frustration grew. The expectations that had surrounded him ever since he committed to Texas began to feel like a burden. He wasn’t just the future of the Longhorns; he was the future of college football itself. Yet, despite his pedigree, he had to sit behind Quinn Ewers, a player whose return now threatened to push Manning’s start date even further into the future.
The tension reached its boiling point when Manning, in a private meeting with Sarkisian, revealed his intentions: he would be transferring to the University of Tennessee for the 2025 season. The decision was a seismic one, sending shockwaves through the college football landscape. Manning knew that if he wanted to be a starter, he couldn’t wait indefinitely. The opportunity to be the face of a program—Tennessee’s program, which had shown signs of revival under Josh Heupel—was too good to pass up. He needed to carve out his own identity, separate from the legacy of the Mannings, and Tennessee offered him the chance to do just that.
The announcement came as a gut punch to Texas fans who had hoped for the Manning-Ewers showdown in 2024. But for Ewers, it was a sign that his time as the undisputed leader of the Longhorns was secure for one more season. He had no intention of letting Manning’s departure affect his focus. Ewers, now fully committed to Texas, aimed to use his final year to cement his status as one of the nation’s top quarterbacks and prove that he was ready for the NFL.
As the 2024 season unfolded, it became clear that the Ewers-led Longhorns were a force to be reckoned with. With a talented supporting cast, including a revamped offensive line and a stable of elite wide receivers, Texas soared to the top of the national rankings. But while Ewers’ game grew sharper and more confident with each passing week, the focus was always on the future, and that future was no longer in Austin for Arch Manning.
Manning’s decision to leave was met with mixed reactions. Some praised him for his determination to control his own destiny, while others wondered if the pressure of living up to the Manning name had been too much. Regardless, his choice marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. For Ewers, however, the road to the NFL was no longer uncertain. With the shadow of Manning gone, Ewers had the spotlight all to himself in 2024—and he was determined to shine.
