Can OU football match Texas' QB luxury of Arch Manning, Quinn Ewers in Red River Rivalry?
Joe MussattoThe Oklahoman
September was the Month of the Backup Quarterback for Oklahoma and Texas.
For the Sooners, replacing Jackson Arnold with Michael Hawkins Jr. was a necessity. For the Longhorns, elevating Arch Manning for the injured Quinn Ewers was a luxury.
But with both teams off this week ahead of the Oct. 12 Red River Rivalry, it’s unlikely we see a Hawkins vs. Manning, freshman vs. redshirt freshman clash in the Cotton Bowl.
Manning will resume his role as best backup quarterback in the country, while Hawkins, having shed his second-team status, will make the second start of his Sooner career.
Despite Manning somehow exceeding expectations, Ewers is still the man in Austin, and all signs point to Ewers being ready to roll for OU-Texas. Unless, of course, this is all a Big Tex-sized ruse orchestrated by Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian.
Ewers, who suffered an abdominal strain in Texas’ Week 3 win against UTSA, was listed as questionable all of last week leading up to Texas’ game against Mississippi State. Ewers didn’t dress out against the Bulldogs, which led to more Manning mania.
Manning, the ballyhooed nephew of Peyton and Eli, completed 26 of 31 passes for 324 yards and two touchdowns in Texas’ 35-13 win against Mississippi State. He rushed for 33 yards and another score.
Hawkins, making his debut start in a rowdy road environment, completed 10 of 15 passes for 161 yards in OU’s 27-21 comeback win at Auburn. Hawkins had 69 yards on 14 carries, including a 48-yard touchdown run on OU’s first drive of the game.
Manning was the highest-graded quarterback in the country in Week 5, receiving a 94.2 grade from Pro Football Focus. Hawkins, with a grade of 60.8, ranked 78th among 112 qualified quarterbacks in Week 5.
Of course the comparison requires context. Manning is playing behind one of the best, perhaps the best, offensive lines in the country. Hawkins, to put it gently, is not.
Hawkins also had a deficit of playmakers to throw to, as the Sooners were missing their top five receivers Saturday. Having Deion Burks back for the Texas game would be a godsend for Hawkins.
But even with injuries and personnel discrepancies aside, the Longhorns will roll into Dallas with a massive edge at the most important position.
Texas has two quarterbacks who are significantly better than OU’s best. And that’s no knock on Hawkins, who has played admirably considering his age and the situation he was thrust into.
But Ewers has a chance to be the No. 1 quarterback taken in the 2025 NFL Draft, and heck, Manning might be the top quarterback in the 2026 class.
Ewers, 1-1 against the Sooners, is in line to make his third Red River start. His numbers against OU are staggering: 52-of-68 passing for 635 yards and five touchdowns, albeit with three interceptions.
Hawkins vs. Ewers shouldn’t be as lopsided as the Davis Beville vs. Ewers disaster of two seasons ago, but the quarterback battle won’t be as tight as it was last year, either, when Dillon Gabriel led the Sooners on a legendary game-winning drive.
Texas was a 5.5-point favorite over OU last season. The ‘Horns, two weeks out from the game, are 8.5-point favorites this time around, according to BetMGM.
If Ewers is deemed healthy, could that line reach upward of 10 points? If he’s ruled out, does the line lower with Manning?
September was the Month of the Backup Quarterback, but come the second Saturday in October, OU’s former backup will start, and Texas’ famed backup will return to the bench.
Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at jmussatto@oklahoman.com. Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
