“This game is on Quinn Ewers”: Todd McShay piles the pressure on Texas QB ahead of the Longhorns’ crucial game against Ohio State

There were a lot of expectations on Quinn Ewers after he decided to return to college football for another season in 2024. While he started on a brilliant note, the quarterback hasn't lived up to the hype on many occasions, leading to a host of offensive struggles for Texas.

After winning their first two games in the College Football Playoff, the No. 4 Longhorns (13-2) will be out against No. 6 Ohio State (12-2) in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night. With a chance to play in the national championship game on the line, an exhilarating encounter is expected in Arlington, Texas.

Considering Ohio State's explosiveness so far in the CFP, Texas needs its offense to stay right on track at AT&T Stadium. Speaking recently on his show, Todd McShay believes much will be decided for the Longhorns by Ewers’ play.

“This game is on Quinn Ewers,” McShay said (Timestamp 1:13:36). “And Quinn Ewers is well documented. You talk about leaving you wanting all season long – since that Michigan game on Sept. 7. Yes, he had the oblique injury, he had the ankle injury, we can make excuses.

“I've said very clearly – I can see Steve Sarkisian, the head coach and the offensive play caller, has protected him, guided him along, put him in positions to succeed but not forced him to tap into everything that he's got.”

Todd McShay believes Quinn Ewers needs to be better than last game

Texas got lucky in its last playoff game. It took the Longhorns two overtimes to defeat Arizona State 39-31 in the Peach Bowl with Quinn Ewers facing some difficulty along the way. Todd McShay believes the quarterback needs to have a better game against Ohio State.

“If we get the Quinn Ewers that we saw in the second, third and early fourth quarter against Arizona State – and that we've seen in a lot of middle of games throughout this year – Texas isn't going to win this game,” McShay said (Timestamp 1:14:12).

McShay went further to point out something that will be crucial for Texas to win the semifinal game: the sense to get things done quickly enough on offense before Ohio State is able to react.

“There's gotta be urgency in Quinn’s game and Steve Sarkisian's play calling for four quarters that we have not seen all season long. That's their only chance to win this game,” McShay said (Timestamp 1:14:52).

Considering how they've romped in the playoffs, the Buckeyes will be entering the game as favorites. They scored more than 40 points against both Tennessee and Oregon and will hope to keep the momentum in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night.