Horns expect Ewers to be ready to start vs. OU
-
Dave Wilson, ESPN Staff Writer
Coach Steve Sarkisian expects quarterback Quinn Ewers to be ready to start when No. 1 Texas plays No. 18 Oklahoma in the Allstate Red River Rivalry on Saturday in Dallas, but the Longhorns will continue to monitor his recovery through the week.
Ewers suffered an oblique injury while throwing across his body and was replaced by Arch Manning in Texas’ victory against UTSA on Sept. 14. Manning started the past two games — victories over UL Monroe and Mississippi State.
Sarkisian said Ewers practiced three times last week and again Monday.
“I thought he looked good coming off the bye,” Sarkisian said. “I think if anybody benefited from the time off, it was probably him. We’re going to monitor him daily just to kind of see how he continues to progress, but I feel good about how he was [Monday].
“I feel good about him going into Saturday, but that remains to be seen.”
Sarkisian said he expects the unexpected against the Sooners (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC), since they are both coming off bye weeks. The Longhorns know they’ll have to prepare for new OU starter Michael Hawkins Jr., who took over for a struggling Jackson Arnold.
Hawkins, a freshman, was 10-for-15 for 161 yards, ran for 69 yards and a score and added a 2-point conversion in his first start — a 27-21 road win at Auburn.
“He went 50 for a touchdown against Auburn, so we got to be really mindful of his ability to extend plays and then create explosive [plays] with his legs,” Sarkisian said.
Nine of the last 10 games between the rivals have been decided by a one score or less. Last year was another classic, with No. 12 Oklahoma driving 75 yards in five plays, capped by Dillon Gabriel‘s 3-yard touchdown pass to Nic Anderson with 15 seconds left to beat the No. 3 Longhorns 34-30. In that game, Ewers threw for 346 yards, but had two interceptions and was sacked five times, tied for the most in a game in his career.
This is the 44th time both teams will be ranked heading into the game, which is second only to the Ohio State–Michigan rivalry (49). It’s the fifth time Texas will enter the game ranked No. 1; Texas is 3-0-1 in the previous four.
“There’s just stuff that happens in this game that I think that’s what makes this game special,” Sarkisian said. “We’re fortunate to be part of it. And this week’s no different.”
Between the stakes and the atmosphere at the State Fair of Texas, Sarkisian said he’s not going to need any motivational ploys.
“To think I’m going to have to give some Knute Rockne speech to get ready for this game is probably not true,” Sarkisian said. “I could probably show up at kickoff and our guys will be ready to play on Saturday morning.”
-
Adam Rittenberg
Pitt freshman football player Mason Alexander was killed Saturday night in a car accident in his hometown of Fishers, Indiana.
Alexander, 18, was pronounced dead at the scene. According to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, he was a passenger in a 2016 BMW driving south on Florida Road. The driver of the car tried to pass a 2015 Toyota before a hillcrest and swerved to avoid a head-on collision with another car traveling in the northbound lane. The BMW traveled off the road and eventually hit a tree, catching on fire.
Alexander starred at cornerback for Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers, near Indianapolis, and was an ESPN 300 recruit in the 2025 class. He signed with Pitt in December, enrolled early and was set to join the team for the start of spring practice this month.
“I received a call this morning that no parent, teacher or coach ever wants to get — the news of the sudden loss of a young and promising life,” Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said in a statement. “Our entire program is shocked and deeply saddened to learn of Mason Alexander’s passing.
“Mason had just enrolled at Pitt in January following his early graduation from Indiana’s Hamilton Southeastern High School. Even during that short time, he made a great impression on all of us. Mason was proud and excited to be a Panther, and we felt the same way about having him in our Pitt family. He will always be a Panther to us. The Alexander family and Mason’s many loved ones and friends will be in our prayers.”
Peyton Daniels, a high school teammate of Alexander’s who plays at Butler, posted about his friend on X, writing, “Mason lit up every room he was in. Brought joy and playfulness to everything and everyone. He could change the entire direction of your day with one interaction. Mason is the embodiment of exceptional. Rest Easy 15. Love forever.”
It’s hard to find the words to say right now. Mason lit up every room he was in. Brought joy and playfulness to everything and everyone. He could change the entire direction of your day with one interaction. Mason is the embodiment of exceptional. Rest Easy 15. Love forever.š¤ pic.twitter.com/FptDR74MSN
ā Peyton Daniels (@daniels_peyton) March 2, 2025
-
Ryan S. Clark
-
Greg Wyshynski
The NHL trade deadline for the 2024-25 season is not until March 7, but teams have not waited until the last minute to make major moves.
For every significant trade that occurs during the season, you’ll find a grade for it here, the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks swapping goaltenders, Cam Fowler to the St. Louis Blues, Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken, the blockbuster deal sending Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes and Martin Necas to the Avalanche, J.T. Miller from the Vancouver Canucks to the New York Rangers, and the Canucks staying busy and getting Marcus Pettersson from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
March 1 featured three big trades, with Ryan Lindgren headed to the Colorado Avalanche, the Minnesota Wild adding Gustav Nyquist, and Seth Jones joining the Florida Panthers.
Read on for grades from Ryan S. Clark and Greg Wyshynski, and check back the next time a big deal breaks.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports11 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway