Have you ever seen a coach drop a mic so hard it shakes the football universe? That’s Steve Sarkisian for you. The Cotton Bowl Classic is just a few sleeps away, and the Texas Longhorns are set to square off with Ryan Day’s mighty Ohio State Buckeyes. But leave it to Ryan Day to start the mind games early, poking at Quinn Ewers with some foxy “He’s got a weak spot” remarks.

Texas Longhorns head coach wasn’t having any at all. Steve Sarkisian backed Quinn Ewers. “Well, like anything, when he went to Ohio State early on, he should have still been a senior in high school. And when we got him back, he was still, in our eyes, a freshman,” Sark said, shutting Day down faster than a DB reading a bad route.

Sarkisian then went on. “There’s been a lot of development; I would say physical development, but I would also say probably mental and emotional development.” Translation: Since then, Quinn Ewers has changed a lot, mentally, physically, and emotionally. Quinn Ewers has been cooking, and Day’s still low-key bitter that he lost him. Ryan Day has literally been eyeing Quinn Ewers since he was in 8th grade. That explains.

Look, here’s the twist—Ryan Day & Quinn Ewers go way back. Day knows Quinn better than most. He even snagged Ewers straight outta high school in 2021, low-key convincing him to skip his senior year to join the Buckeyes early. But it was a short romance. After just 2 snaps and a whole lotta bench time, Ewers dipped and came back home to Texas. Now, with a full season under Sark’s wing, Quinn’s transformed from a mullet-rocking freshman to a wise beyond-his-years baller. And that transformation? It’s why this Cotton Bowl showdown is more than just football; it’s personal.

Day’s comments weren’t subtle. “He didn’t have the normal experience… he was already behind a decent amount just because of how late he came in,” he said, slyly pointing out Ewers’ past inconsistency issues. But Sark clapped back with receipts, praising Ewers for his growth. “To watch him grow into the leader that he’s grown into for us, his ability to have the poise and composure he has, not only on the field but off the field. To look into the face of adversity and come out on the other side of it time and time again, whether it be injuries, whatever that looks like….his best when his best was needed, similar to the Peach Bowl there at the end of the game and in overtime.”

Sark added, hyping up the same QB who threw for 3,189 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 11 picks this season. Quinn Ewers is no rookie anymore, and Sark’s making sure Day knows it. Oh, and let’s not forget: tickets for this Cotton Bowl Classic sold out in a single day. Why? Because it’s been over 2 decades since Texas graced this stage and nearly 15 years since these 2 squads last squared off. The stakes? Higher than Quinn’s perfect 1.0000 composite ranking outta high school. The drama? Realer than a Jerry Springer episode. And you can bet every eyeball in the whole of Arlington will be low-key glued to this showdown.

Quinn Ewers, Longhorns, and resilience against ASU

Aight, let’s talk about that Peach Bowl game—a double-OT thriller against Arizona State that’ll go down as one of the greatest playoff games ever. Quinn Ewers showed the world why he’s the truth. The game started rough, though. Texas’ kicker missed two game-winners in the fourth quarter, giving every Longhorn fan a near-heart attack. But Quinn? Ice in his veins. He stepped up in OT like he had a dinner reservation to catch.

First OT, Texas drive: Quinn called an audible, snapped the pigskin, and fired a 28-yard laser middle of the field to WR, Matthew Golden. Touchdown. Then came OT2. On the opening play, he hit Gunnar Helm with another dart for a touchdown. And he rolled out right on the next snap and dropped a dime to Golden for the 2-point conversion to seal the deal. Final score? 39-31. Quinn’s line? 20-for-30, 322 yards, 3 passing touchdowns, and 1 on the ground. Diabolical can’t even begin to describe it.

Texas fans know this ain’t just another game. It’s been almost 2 decades since the Longhorns saw the glory. Ewers battled injuries all season yet he kept showing up. That Peach Bowl performance? It was the ultimate middle finger to anyone doubting his toughness or leadership. Sark’s play-calling was masterful, but it was Ewers’ poise that stole the show. When the lights were brightest and the pressure was suffocating, Quinn delivered like a Black Friday sale.

Now, all eyes are on the Cotton Bowl Classic. Will Quinn Ewers send Ryan Day packing? Will this be his final game in burnt orange before heading to the NFL? Or has he got some other plans? One thing’s for sure: this showdown isn’t just about football; it’s about pride. Texas pride. Ohio pride. And most importantly, Quinn Ewers is proving he’s not the same kid who left Ohio State. Enjoy the ride, folks. It’s about to be one for the books.