the Texas Longhorns have 10 or more wins for the second straight season, something they haven’t done since their nine-season streak of 10 or more wins from 2001 to 2009. Their game against the Georgia Bulldogs – the only team to beat them this season – is critical for both teams. Not only is Texas under pressure to avoid a second loss to Georgia in the same season, but the losing team will face an additional game in the College Football Playoff, while the winner will secure a bye week.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart made some notable comments before the game, surprisingly heaping more praise on backup quarterback Arch Manning than starter Quinn Ewers. Manning has stepped up as the starter in two games, picking up wins while Ewers has been recovering from injury. Smart acknowledged that his team is preparing for both quarterbacks, stating:
Although Manning has only appeared in seven games for Texas this season, including two starts early in the year when Ewers was sidelined with an injury, the 19-year-old quarterback has shown that he could take over as the program’s leader next season after Ewers leaves for the NFL.
