In a significant move during the game against No. 5 Georgia, No. 1 Texas's head coach Steve Sarkisian benched starting quarterback Quinn Ewers late in the second quarter, replacing him with freshman Arch Manning. Ewers remained on the sideline with his helmet on, indicating the change was not due to injury. At the time of the switch, Texas was trailing 20-0, and Ewers had completed 6 of 12 passes with two turnovers. Manning entered the game with 4:43 remaining before halftime, and his 21-yard scramble became Texas's longest play of the night. However, Georgia's defense, led by linebacker Jalon Walker, continued to dominate. Walker recorded three sacks, including one on Manning, and recovered a fumble after Manning was sacked. Georgia capitalized on the turnovers, extending their lead to 23-0 by halftime. The quarterback change has raised questions about Texas's offensive strategy and potential implications for team dynamics moving forward.
