Amid No. 3 Texas dominating No. 10 Michigan 31–12, Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers had extra reason to enjoy the victory.
Three years ago, Ewers was a freshman quarterback on the Ohio State roster when Michigan ended the Buckeyes’ dominance of the heated rivalry 42–27. Ewers transferred to Texas (2–0) after that season and became the Longhorns starting quarterback.
“I understand the rivalry Ohio State has with Michigan, and to carry that along through the week, and again, I understand how it goes,” Ewers told reporters after the game. “It’s definitely cool coming back here because it didn’t end up going the way of the team I was on.”
His return to the Big House went much better on Saturday than 2021 as he threw for 246 yards and three touchdowns on 24–36 passing. Ewers put the game away with a touchdown pass in the final seconds of the first half on a 5-yard throw to Longhorns receiver Matthew Golden to cap a six-play, 42-yard drive in 49 seconds.
“I think there’s something about Quinn and his demeanor. He’s very calm and collected,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian told reporters afterward . “He never rides the emotional roller coaster. You'll see glimpses of him celebrating a touchdown, but he’s never over-the-top exuberant. When things aren’t going great, you never see him get down. He stays pretty even-keeled, and that demeanor helps him in these environments.”
Michigan (1–1) showed some rivalry vibes in the loss with a late hit on Ewers, which led to a scuffle during the second half. That nor the majority of the 111,170 fans in Ann Arbor rooting against him fazed him.
“I enjoy big moments,” Ewers said. “I think what helps me out is I’m not trying to please anybody. I’m not trying to please people who breathe one breath at a time.”
A Texas native, Ewers simply wanted to go back home after a year with the Buckeyes in 2021. He previously committed to the Longhorns in 2020 before he decommitted and joined Ohio State after high school at Southlake Carroll.
“I grew up always watching the Longhorns play, wanted to be in that burnt orange. There was a little obstacle in between, but I ended up here and I’m very thankful for all the opportunities God has given me. I’m just excited to be back in the home state,” Ewers told reporters in 2022.
“At the end of the day, I just wanted to be closer to my family and friends and stuff like that,” Ewers said.
Ewers now has the chance to win an SEC title and more in his first year with the Longhorns after the program moved over from the Big 12. Texas has looked dominant in two games this season with a 52–0 drubbing of Colorado State on Aug. 31 and now a rout of the Wolverines. The Longhorns have two more non-conference games before opening SEC play on Sept. 28 against Mississippi State (1–0).
Michigan meanwhile has to regroup with one more non-conference game against Arkansas State (1–0) before a Big Ten opener against newcomer and No. 13 USC (1–0). The Wolverines suffered a loss for the first time in 16 games since January 2023 in the College Football Playoff against TCU, and the Longhorns ended a 29-game regular season Michigan winning streak plus a 23-game winning streak at the Big House.
“That’s a loss. We haven’t had one of these in a long time so you definitely feel it,” Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore told reporters. “Our kids feel it. They feel it more than anybody.”
