"When Quinn Ewers came back there was never any divide": CFB insider hails Texas' "culture" to deliver verdict on championship chances

The Texas Longhorns are making a serious statement in the College Football Playoff. Their 38-24 victory over the Clemson Tigers has boosted their chances of winning the national championship. However, behind the on-field success, rumors of tension between quarterbacks Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning have swelled.

Despite the speculation, CFB insider J.D. Pickell is singing a different tune. He’s praising the strong team culture fostered by coach Steve Sarkisian. Pickell believes this culture is a key factor in Texas’s success. He said on "On3":

"For some teams if there wasn't a good culture there was solid DNA traits a good competitive psyche that can hurt you a little bit man that can cause you to wobble cause you to take a step backwards."

Pickell praised the team’s resilience, noting that there was no internal strife even when Quinn Ewers was injured and Manning stepped in.

"When Ewers came back there was never any divide or lack of cohesion within that locker room in Austin," he said [01:33]

He also pointed out Texas’ “workmanlike approach a professional approach and a solid culture.”

The Longhorns’ performance against Dabo Swinney’s Clemson gave a glimpse of their championship potential. Even when Clemson tried to orchestrate a comeback in the fourth quarter, the Texas defense stood strong. The victory proved that Texas has the talent and the teamwork to make a deep playoff run.

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Texas HC reveals difference between SEC championship loss and CFP win over Clemson

What changed between the Loghorns' loss to the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC championship and their CFP playoff win against Clemson? The Longhorns' coach revealed the key difference: penalties. Sarkisian believes penalties were the main reason for their downfall against Georgia.

"We had a real come-to-Jesus meeting after the SEC Championship game when we essentially lost that game because of penalties," he said via MSN.

He added that they vowed to "play as clean a football as we can play, as fundamentally sound football as we can play, still be aggressive."

The Texas HC admitted a major shift occurred in the Longhorns’ locker room after the Georgia loss. They focused on eliminating penalties without sacrificing their aggressive style. He added:

"We never want to lose our stinger and we never want to lose our aggressive, but we can play smarter."

While penalties were a major focus, Texas faces other challenges, including Quinn Ewers’ injury. However, Sarkisian’s ability to maneuver challenges and adapt quickly gives the Longhorns hope for a deep playoff run.