Texas Football: ESPN commentator says Buechele is best QB in Texas

Shane Buechele Mandatory Credit: Tim Flores-USA TODAY Sports
Shane Buechele Mandatory Credit: Tim Flores-USA TODAY Sports /
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Who should be considered the best quarterback in the state? Should it be SMU’s Shane Buechele or Texas football senior Sam Ehlinger?

The halftime show crew on ESPN/ABC for the matchup between the Texas football program and the upstart West Virginia Mountaineers on Nov. 7 had some bold things to say about this quarterback situation. After the halftime report showcased a few other highlights from games going on around the country on this day, one of their commentators/college football personalities stated that former Texas quarterback Shane Buechele is the best at the position in this state.

That would presume that the particular commentator that stated that Buechele is in fact the best quarterback in college in the state of Texas thinks that he is better than the likes of Kellen Mond of the Texas A&M Aggies and the Longhorns senior star Sam Ehlinger. While Buechele is putting on a nice show for head coach Sonny Dykes and the SMU Mustangs in the American Athletic Conference this season, that is a very bold statement by this commentator.

Buechele had transferred out of the Texas program last offseason to join SMU because he was beat out by Ehlinger in the starting quarterback battle the previous season. Not to take anything away from Buechele, but he didn’t do near enough to win the starting quarterback battle when he was still a Longhorn competing with Ehlinger.

So far this season, Buechele does have a nice stat line going for himself. He’s registered 2,226 passing yards, 16 passing touchdowns, just three interceptions, and one rushing touchdown. Meanwhile, Ehlinger has registered 1,650 passing yards, 20 passing touchdowns, five interceptions, 284 rushing yards, and seven rushing touchdowns.

The numbers that Ehlinger has against Power Five opponents in his career are also much better than Buechele’s. In his career against the Power Five, Buechele has registered 4,400 passing yards, 26 passing touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. Meanwhile, Ehlinger registered 9,083 passing yards, 73 passing touchdowns, and 27 interceptions, in his career against Power Five teams. That’s not to mention his 31 rushing touchdowns against Power Five teams.

It’s clear that while Buechele might be having a more efficient 2020 season of late, Ehlinger should still be regarded as the best quarterback in the state of Texas. There’s also a good argument that Mond could belong ahead of Buechele in this conversation. Texas A&M is having a pretty good run this season out in the SEC West behind Mond’s leadership.

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Texas is facing the West Virginia Mountaineers, with kick off on the morning of Nov. 7, this weekend. Meanwhile, Buechele and the Mustangs are taking on the Temple Owls in AAC play in the same kick off slate.