"Saved Texas' season": Dan Orlovsky has high praise for Quinn Ewers amid all the criticism

Former NFL quarterback and college football analyst Dan Orlovsky had high praise for Quinn Ewers. Ewers helped lead Texas to a double-overtime 39-31 win over Arizona State in the Peach Bowl on Wednesday to advance to the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Ewers made two great throws in OT, which led to two touchdowns and helped the No. 4 Longhorns defeat the No. 10 Sun Devils. It was a good performance from the QB, and on Thursday, Orlovsky said he was the reason the Longhorns avoided the upset.

"Quinn Ewers' composure saved Texas' season," Orlovsky said on ESPN's 'Get Up.' "After that fourth-quarter interception and the mounting comeback by Arizona State, he goes 11-for-14 for 160 yards and a 96 QBR.

"4th and 13, and we are going to break this down later, the fact he gets to the line of scrimmage, he sees the blitz coming, he controls everything, calms everyone on the offense down, changes the whole play and takes the shot down field and makes the throw is huge.

"The experience that he has, all those snaps in college football paid off. Because in that moment, everything is in front of you, the weight of the world, and that fanbase is in front of you and it paid off for them."

Orlovsky said he was impressed with how calm Ewers and Steve Sarkisian were in the 4th and 13 spot in OT. In the win, Ewers went 20-for-30 for 322 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.

Steve Sarkisian praises Quinn Ewers

Steve Sarkisian praises Quinn Ewers - Source: Imagn

Texas Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian heaped praise on Quinn Ewers for his composure in the double OT win. Ewers played well in the CFP quarterfinal matchup, especially in the two overtimes. After the win, Sarkisian spoke to the media and praised his signal-caller.

"If I can be the model of composure and Quinn can be the model of composure and poise, that permeates throughout our team," Sarkisian said after the win, via Bleacher Report. "Some great plays. (Andrew) Mukuba with a great pick, Matt Golden, Gunnar Helm. Bunch of guys making big plays."

With the 39-31 OT win over ASU, Texas advanced to the national semifinals. The Longhorns will play the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl on Friday, Jan. 10, at 7:30 p.m. ET.