Sark still unsure on starting QB for SEC debut

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said on Thursday that the No. 1 Longhorns still haven’t decided on a starting quarterback for Saturday’s inaugural SEC game against Mississippi State.

Quinn Ewers was listed as questionable on Texas’ first SEC injury report, still recovering from an oblique strain. Arch Manning made his first career start last week in a 51-3 win over UL Monroe.

“We’re going to decide on the quarterback thing tomorrow,” Sarkisian said. “It won’t be a secret. We’re not trying to pull the wool over anybody’s eyes. Just want to give Quinn every opportunity to see if he’s ready to play and what he looks like.”

Sarkisian said on Monday that Ewers practiced and looked good, but he wanted to see how he was feeling after a week of work. He said he has been encouraged by what he has seen all week, even from third-string quarterback Trey Owens, a true freshman.

“I’d say he’s improved every day,” Sarkisian said on Thursday. “I think Arch has had a very good week, and I would say this: Trey Owens probably had his best practice as a Longhorn today, so that was really encouraging as well.”

Mississippi State has had injury issues of its own at quarterback and will be starting a true freshman, Michael Van Buren Jr., after starter Blake Shapen was lost for the season last week with a shoulder injury that will require surgery. Van Buren, the No. 57 prospect in the 2024 ESPN 300, went 7-for-13 for 100 yards off the bench in a 45-28 loss to Florida on Saturday.

Sarkisian said that presents a challenge to Texas, without having much film on a new quarterback. And he knows his opponent in first-year Bulldogs coach Jeff Lebby, who was Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator last year when Dillon Gabriel led the Sooners on a 75-yard drive in 62 seconds to beat Texas, 34-30.

“It’s a small sample size,” Sarkisian said. “They’ve had a week now to prepare a game plan for the things that he does well, and that’s what we’re going to have to sort through and figure out. But knowing Jeff Lebby, a really good offensive mind, he’s going to put him in a good position to have some success. … Our job is to try to get him uncomfortable and we’ll see how effective we are.”