Football is a game of moments, but for Quinn Ewers, the 2024 season felt like a lifetime of them packed into two games against the Georgia Bulldogs. If you were watching the first matchup in Austin, you saw it. The air in Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium basically vanished when Steve Sarkisian did the unthinkable: he benched his star.
Ewers, the guy with the mullet and the cannon arm, was standing on the sideline while Arch Manning took snaps. It was surreal. Georgia’s pass rush was treating the Texas offensive line like a revolving door, and Ewers looked, well, rattled. He had completed 6 of 12 passes for a measly 17 yards before getting pulled.
Honestly, it wasn’t just about the stats. It was the body language. The Bulldogs were flying around, and the Longhorns looked like they were stuck in mud.
The Night the Hype Hit a Wall
The October 19th game was supposed to be a coronation. Texas was ranked No. 1. The "horns up" energy was at an all-time high. Then the whistle blew. Georgia’s defense, led by Jalon Walker and a ferocious front seven, recorded seven sacks that night. Seven.
Ewers eventually came back into the game in the third quarter. He actually played much better, leading two touchdown drives and finishing with 211 yards. But the damage was done. Georgia walked out with a 30-15 win and a massive psychological advantage.
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You’ve gotta wonder what that does to a quarterback’s head. Getting benched at home while the stadium is chanting for the backup is a special kind of pressure. Most guys would crumble. Quinn didn't, but he didn't exactly thrive either. He later told Jon Gruden on his "QB Class" show that the experience was "tough"—a rare moment of vulnerability from a guy who usually keeps his cards close to his chest.
The SEC Championship Rematch
Fast forward to December 7th. Atlanta. The Mercedes-Benz Stadium was a pressure cooker. This wasn't just a regular-season grudge match; this was for the SEC title.
Texas actually dominated the first half. They outgained Georgia 260 to 54 in yardage. If you just looked at the box score at halftime, you’d think the Longhorns were up by three touchdowns. Instead, they led 6-3. Why? Penalties. Dropped passes. A missed field goal.
Ewers was slinging it, though. He finished that game with 358 yards. He looked like the first-round talent everyone talked about in the preseason. But the Bulldogs have this weird, inevitable quality to them. They stay in the fight until you get tired, and then they strike.
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Where Quinn Ewers Struggled Against the Bulldogs
When you watch the tape of the SEC Championship, a few things stand out. Georgia didn't just play better; they played smarter.
- The Red Zone Wall: Texas got into plus territory repeatedly. They couldn't punch it in. Ewers had a tendency to look for his first read and, if it wasn't there, things got chaotic.
- Pressure Management: Mykel Williams and the UGA front recorded six sacks in Atlanta. Even when Ewers was putting up big yardage, he was constantly under fire.
- The Turnovers: Two interceptions by Daylen Everette were the daggers. One was a tipped ball, but the other was a forced throw under duress.
It’s easy to blame the QB. That’s the job. But watching Matthew Golden drop a potential touchdown or seeing the right side of the O-line collapse in two seconds flat? That’s not on Quinn.
What People Get Wrong About the Arch Manning Factor
There is this narrative that Arch Manning should have played more. Fans love the backup. They especially love a backup with that last name. But if you look at the 2024 tape, Manning struggled against that same Georgia speed when he was in.
The Bulldogs are built to kill "hero ball." They want you to try to make a miracle happen because that's when they pick you off. Sarkisian stuck with Ewers because, for all his struggles, he had the experience to navigate the system. Whether that was the right call is still being debated in every bar in Austin.
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The 2025 Outlook and Actionable Lessons
So, where does this leave us? The 2024 games against Georgia basically defined Ewers' draft stock. He’s seen now as a "developmental prospect" by many scouts—someone with elite physical tools who needs to get better at processing when the pocket gets messy.
If you’re a fan or a student of the game, here are the real takeaways from this rivalry:
- Don't overvalue yardage: 358 yards looks great on a stat sheet, but if it doesn't lead to touchdowns in the red zone, it's empty calories.
- Offensive line depth is everything: Texas’s struggles weren't just about Quinn; they were about a lack of answers for Georgia's speed off the edge.
- Watch the "oblique" factor: It was widely reported Ewers was playing through an abdominal/oblique injury for much of the season. If you watch his deep ball in the Georgia games, the torque isn't quite there. It matters.
The Longhorns are still a powerhouse, and Quinn Ewers has a lot of football left in him. But those two nights against the Bulldogs will be the "what if" moments of his college career. If you want to understand why a quarterback succeeds or fails at the next level, go back and watch the second quarter of the Austin game. It’s a masterclass in how defensive pressure can change a player's internal clock.
Keep an eye on the 2025 NFL Draft reports. You'll see these specific games mentioned every single time Quinn's name comes up.
Next Steps for Fans:
Go back and watch the 22-19 overtime loss in the SEC Championship specifically focusing on the third-down conversions. It tells a much more nuanced story than the blowout in Austin ever could.