The Texas Longhorns are making a serious commitment to the College Football Playoff. A 38-24 victory over the Clemson Tigers increased their chances of winning the National Championship. But behind the success on the field, rumors of tension between quarterbacks Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning are growing.
Despite the speculation, CFB insider JD Pickell is singing a different tune. He praises the strong team culture fostered by coach Steve Sarkisian. Pickell believes this culture is a key component of Texas State’s success. He said this on “On3”.
“Some teams, even if they don’t have a good culture, they have strong DNA traits and a good competitive spirit and that can hurt a little bit and that can cause them to wobble and go backwards. ”
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Pickell praised the team’s resilience, noting there was no internal conflict when Quinn Ewers was injured and Manning took his place.
“When Ewers came back, there was no division or lack of unity in the Austin locker room at all,” he said (01:33)
He also pointed to Texas’ “artisanal approach, professional approach and solid culture.”
The Longhorns’ performance against Dabo Swinney’s Clemson showed a glimpse of championship potential. Even when Clemson tried to orchestrate a comeback in the fourth quarter, Texas’ defense was solid. This victory proved that Texas has the talent and teamwork to make the playoffs.
Also read: Quinn Ewers transfer rumors: CFB insider links Texas QB to Big Ten giants as Arch Manning is set to start in 2024
Texas HC reveals difference between losing SEC Championship and winning CFP vs. Clemson
What changed between the Loghorns’ loss to the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship and their win over Clemson in the CFP playoffs? The Longhorns coach said the key difference was penalties. Sarkisian believes penalties were the reason for the loss against Georgia.
“After the SEC Championship game, when we essentially lost on penalties, we had a true meeting with Jesus,” he said via MSN.
He added: “We pledge to play as clean football as we can, play as fundamentally sound football as possible, and still be aggressive.”
The Texas head coach acknowledged that there were big changes in the Longhorns’ locker room after the loss to Georgia. They focused on eliminating penalties without sacrificing their offensive style. He added:
“We never want to lose our needle, we never want to lose our aggressiveness, but we can play smarter.”
While penalties were a big focus, the Texans also face other challenges, including an injury to Quinn Ewers. But Sarkisian’s ability to overcome challenges and adapt quickly gives the Longhorns hope of making the playoffs.
ALSO READ: ‘It has nothing to do with his last name’: Texas fans praise Arch Manning as Greg McElroy gives candid verdict on Quinn Ewers
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Edited by Aditya Singh
