Quinn Ewers return to form helped the Texas Longhorns jump three spots in the latest ESPN Power Rankings. The Horns leapfrogged Ohio State, Penn State and Miami.
Ewers finished Saturday’s game in Nashville 27 of 37 for 288 yards, 3 TDs and 2 INTs. Both interceptions were off of tipped passes at the line of scrimmage. UT held off Vandy 27-24.
At times, Texas looked like the dominant powerful team it was in the first six games of the season. But the good was almost completely cancelled out by sloppy penalties, especially on the offensive line. The group committed seven penalties, five were holding calls that hampered and halted several promising drives.
ESPN’s Chris Low explaining the 3rd place ranking.
“There were too many penalties and Texas was never able to completely put away Vanderbilt, but the Longhorns bounced back from their disappointing home loss to Georgia to beat the Commodores 27-24 on the road Saturday. The best news for Texas was that quarterback Quinn Ewers also bounced back with three touchdown passes and didn’t blink when he threw an interception on the game’s first possession on a tipped ball. Ewers completed 17 straight passes after that interception. Vanderbilt had committed only two turnovers all season entering the game, but the Longhorns’ defense forced the Commodores into three turnovers. Texas (7-1, 3-1) has now won nine straight road games and will get a bye before returning to action against Florida at home on Nov. 9.” — Chris Low
Check out the full rankings here.