Sooner Scoop analyst uncertain Texas QB Quinn Ewers will play in Red River

“If he doesn’t play well to start the season, I don’t know that Oklahoma faces Quinn Ewers in that game.”

College football takes abound as we begin the crescendo toward the peak of talking season. We uncovered an interesting take on Friday. On3’s Griffin McVeigh discussed one strong opinion laid out by an Oklahoma insider.

Sooner Scoop college football analyst Carey Murdock had the following to say about this year’s matchup between Texas and Oklahoma and how the Sooners will attack the Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl.

“My question is — will there be a quarterback controversy? Will there be pressure on him to play well? Because of one young Mr. Five-star on the bench. If he doesn’t play well to start the season, I don’t know that Oklahoma faces Quinn Ewers in that game.”

The five-star to which Murdock refers is Arch Manning, the third-most likely Texas quarterback to play this season after Ewers and redshirt freshman Maalik Murphy. Undoubtedly, Manning possesses the talent to be great but could have an adjustment period moving from a small Louisiana school to major college football.

As for how Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables would defend the Texas offense, Murdock suggested the Sooners will unleash their blitz playbook.

“(Venables is) going to try to heat up a quarterback. That’s no secret there. He’s going to send blitzes upon blitzes upon blitzes and from all different directions. I think that’s what the game plan is.”

Given what the Longhorns have at receiver, that might be the only way Oklahoma can disrupt the Texas offense this season. In last year’s matchup, the Sooners surrendered 49 points and 585 yards. The team’s last passing attempt saw Quinn Ewers throw a touchdown to Ja’Tavion Sanders with 1:57 left in the third quarter. The Longhorns pulled backup quarterback Hudson Card for third stringer Charles Wright to further telegraph that they were letting off the gas.

This year Venables’ defense could have to contend with Adonai Mitchell, Isaiah Neyor and Johntay Cook at receiver. That’s to say nothing of Xavier Worthy, Ja’Tavion Sanders and Jordan Whittington who have already feasted in the series.

The Sooners should be much improved overall, but the matchup with the Longhorns isn’t ideal. Given the struggles of the Oklahoma cornerback room, whoever starts for Texas at quarterback should be set up for a big game. From the improvement we saw in the spring, Quinn Ewers will likely be able to navigate the season.