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…
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