AUSTIN, Texas — On Thursday, just before the highly anticipated matchup between No. 1 Texas and No. 5 Georgia, Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian was asked what it would take for him to substitute quarterback Quinn Ewers with Arch Manning during the game. Sarkisian swiftly dismissed the inquiry, stating, “I’m not even going to answer that. I don’t know what the question is.”

Fast forward two days, and we received a surprising answer that has now become the focal point of Texas’ season.

Sarkisian replaced Ewers with Manning late in the first half during Saturday’s defeat to the Bulldogs, with Texas trailing 20-0 in a game that ultimately ended 30-15. Manning had two drives before halftime. Although Sarkisian started the second half with Ewers, who performed better as Texas tried to salvage the score, the coach inadvertently stirred up a controversy he had hoped to avoid.

“Quinn’s our starting quarterback,” Sarkisian asserted after the game.

While he can reassure the media and fans, the situation has undeniably shifted. There is now a quarterback debate, regardless of how it’s framed. This unexpected twist has cast a shadow over what had been a flawless season for Texas up until that point. Fans eager to see Manning on the field are now aware that he could step in when Ewers is underperforming.

Sarkisian has consistently defended Ewers since his arrival, managing the quarterback situation deftly until now. He understood the implications of replacing Ewers with the highly touted Manning for reasons other than injury. However, the possibility is now a reality for the remainder of the season.

The excitement surrounding Arch Manning has been difficult for Texas and Sarkisian to contain. At games, Manning jerseys are far more prevalent than Ewers’ attire. Merchandise featuring No. 16 is prominently displayed in team stores at Darrel K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Fans frequently speculate whether they will see Peyton and Eli Manning’s nephew play. Meanwhile, Ewers appeared in a Dr. Pepper commercial that revolved around him being a backup.

After Texas’ victory over Michigan, I argued that Ewers deserved more respect and that it was time to quell the Manning speculation while Ewers remained the starting quarterback. Ewers had been pivotal in Texas’ resurgence. However, after suffering an oblique injury and missing two games, he has struggled since his return. He managed just 17 yards and two turnovers in the first half against Georgia before being benched.

When Manning entered the game at a 20-0 deficit, the crowd erupted.

“I felt Quinn was a little uneasy, and I thought it would help him to step back and regroup,” Sarkisian explained the switch. “I wasn’t sure how many series Arch would get, so we told Quinn we’d go with Arch to give him a chance to recover and come back out in the second half.”

However, Ewers later revealed that he wasn’t informed of his return until halftime in the locker room.

“The coaches said they wanted to give Arch a shot and let me settle down,” Ewers shared.

Manning briefly energized Texas, showcasing quicker throws and better mobility than Ewers. He completed three of six passes and had a 21-yard scramble but took an unfortunate sack, resulting in a fumble that allowed Georgia to extend their lead to 23-0 by halftime.

This served as a reminder that, despite the hype, Manning still has room for growth on the field, having struggled earlier against Louisiana-Monroe before showing improvement against Mississippi State.

Ewers started the second half strongly, driving Texas downfield for a touchdown, which reinvigorated the crowd. After a controversial overturned interception, Ewers threw a second touchdown, narrowing the gap to 23-15.

“I felt the change was effective, and Quinn played much better in the second half,” Sarkisian noted.

“I just settled down and focused on playing,” Ewers remarked.

Despite improving, he couldn’t lead a comeback to erase the memory of his benching, finishing with 25 completions on 43 attempts for 211 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.

Ewers has typically excelled in Texas’ most significant games, but post-injury, he faltered early against Oklahoma and struggled in the first half against Georgia.

When asked if the oblique injury was still an issue, Ewers admitted he felt it slightly but believed it might be more mental.

“That’s just how injuries go,” he said.

Sarkisian may claim he wanted to calm Ewers down, but he wouldn’t have made the switch unless he believed Manning could spark a comeback. Texas’ defense performed admirably, limiting Georgia to 283 total yards. If the offense could have avoided turnovers, they might have had a chance to win. This risk was why Sarkisian opted for the quarterback change, even though it didn’t pan out.

This loss has thrown the SEC race wide open. For the first time since 2007, no SEC team remains undefeated heading into November. Only Texas A&M and LSU are undefeated in conference play, set to face off next week.

Texas is still capable of contending for a national championship, and Sarkisian is aware of that. Perhaps this brief benching will motivate Ewers to enhance his performance and elevate the Longhorns. When asked if he was prepared for more questions about Arch moving forward, Ewers chuckled and replied, “I don’t know.”

Every future Texas game will now come with the looming possibility that Manning could step in if Ewers struggles. For a year and a half, Sarkisian managed to sidestep this issue. Now, with sky-high expectations surrounding the program, an unexpected question mark has emerged.