Quinn Ewers & Arch Manning handed huge boost as Texas star reported to make a comeback after missing the Clemson clash

The Arch Manning versus Quinn Ewers debate has refused to die down and has gotten even more heated as the Texas Longhorns' College Football Playoff quarterfinals clash against the Arizona State Sun Devils draws closer. The Longhorns navigated the first-round 38–24 win against the Clemson Tigers with Ewers as the undisputed starter.

In the game against the Tigers, the Texas quarterbacks missed the services of talented wide receiver Isaiah Bond who transferred from the Alabama Crimson Tide in January. Bond has tallied 532 yards on 33 receptions resulting in five touchdowns this season.

On Sunday, ESPN insider Pete Thamel provided an update about Bond via a tweet.

"Source: Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond will play for the Longhorns against Arizona State in the CFP quarterfinals on Wednesday," Thamel tweeted. "Bond missed the Clemson game after re-aggravating an ankle injury in the SEC title game. He’s been practicing and is set to go."

Analyst makes Arch Manning plea to Steve Sarkisian for CFP

The Arch Manning versus Quinn Ewers issue has continued throughout the season. Last week, ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit, during an appearance on a segment of "Pardon My Take," made a plea to Texas coach Steve Sarkisian regarding the quarterback's role.

"I thought that fresh off the Georgia Tech game, (Sarkisian) saw something he could attack, using Arch’s ability to exploit the edges, but he didn’t do it," Herbstreit said. (1:39:00) "That doesn’t mean he’s putting Arch Manning away, but for whatever reason, he stuck with Quinn. Still, it makes you wonder how much Arch will factor into their next matchup."

Herbstreit further predicted how Sarkisian would use Manning and Ewers during the College Football Playoff period.

"I hope we see more of him (Manning)—it's fun to watch. I think it’s a game-by-game approach for Arch and how they'll use him, "Herbstreit said. "This is Quinn Ewers' team, but there’s so much anticipation and excitement around Arch potentially taking over, and I wonder if that dynamic is influencing Sark inside the locker room.

Sark is a 'whatever it takes to win' kind of guy, but I think he's also mindful of his team’s makeup, and Ewers is his QB. So, it'll be a bit tricky to manage in 2024."

The Arizona State Sun Devils will offer a different proposition to the Texas Longhorns defensively, and fans will be invested in whether Sarkisian will utilize Manning for his dual-edged threat over Ewers.