Ahead of Texas' matchup against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl, ESPN shared a segment that focused on Longhorn quarterback Quinn Ewers – who started his collegiate career with none other than the Buckeyes.
Throughout the season, Ewers has ignored doubters who have said that backup quarterback Arch Manning should be Texas' QB1 and now, Ewers is ignoring many of those same doubters who are saying he should enter the transfer portal instead of declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft.
As Ewers has struggled with injuries and a loss of faith from many in the college football community, a lot of people have suggested the portal as an alternative to the risk of going undrafted or becoming an afterthought as Manning takes over the Texas program.
However, during the ESPN segment, Pete Thamel asked point blank if Ewers expected to still be playing college football next season. His answer was simple, "No, I don't."
Do you expect to play college football next year?
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) January 10, 2025
Quinn Ewers: "No, I don't."
per his interview with @PeteThamel on College Gameday
During the segment, ESPN and Thamel highlighted the highest of highs and the lowest of lows that Ewers has experienced throughout his collegiate season – including riding the bench at Ohio State, suffering multiple injuries at Texas, and leading the Longhorns to back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances.
From his completion on 4th & 13, facing his former school, his playing future and more, Quinn Ewers sits down with @PeteThamel before the Longhorns face the Buckeyes 🤘 pic.twitter.com/r06pz6mKSu
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) January 10, 2025
So, despite hundreds, if not thousands, of people saying he should stay at the collegiate level, the Horns' offensive leader is set on his future. That future? The NFL.
The 2025 NFL Draft is set for April 24 through 26. Ewers, in possibly his last college football game ever, was set to face the No. 8 Buckeyes as he led the No. 5 Longhorns into the Cotton Bowl. Texas and Ohio State were scheduled to kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT as the two teams fought for a spot in the National Championship game.