Put it in the Burn Book.
ESPN college football analyst and former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy wants the Longhorns to stop trying to make their Arch Manning experiment work ahead of Saturday’s first-round College Football Playoff game against 12th-seeded Clemson.
During an appearance on Friday’s installment of “Get Up,” McElroy used a reference from the movie “Mean Girls” while discussing Texas potentially benching quarterback Quinn Ewers for the second-year signal-caller.
“There’s a moment in the ‘Mean Girls’ movie where they say, ‘Stop trying to make fetch happen,’” McElroy, who led the Crimson Tide to the 2010 national championship, said.
“That’s kind of what I’m going to say about this Arch thing. Let’s stop trying to make Arch into his uncles right now.”
The 19-year-old redshirt freshman, a product of Isidore Newman High School, is the nephew of NFL QB legends Peyton and Eli and grandson of Archie Manning Sr.
McElroy explained that the No. 5 Longhorns should rely on Ewers in their second straight College Football Playoff appearance despite the Texas offense regressing this season.
“He’ll get there,” the former Jets quarterback said of Manning. “He’s going to be a great player in time. I’m a real believer in his upside. I’m a believer in his mobility. I think he could have a package in this system, seriously. I think in this playoffs, it would not be surprising in the red zone if he was on the field. But being on the field for anything more than a situational play right now I think, would be disadvantageous to an offense that’s likely going to have to throw their way to victory.
“They’re gonna have to throw it to the national championship … I think Arch is going to be a great player situationally, but at this point, Quinn is your guy and should hopefully take you to the promised land if you’re a Longhorn fan.”
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Manning won both his starts this season, throwing four touchdowns and rushing for another while Ewers was out with an oblique injury.
He’s shown efficiency as a dual-threat quarterback.
Ewers is expected to enter the 2025 NFL Draft after this season, paving the way for Manning to take over the starting job in Austin.
Rumors surfaced online recently that Ewers — who struggled at times and dealt with injuries this season — may return to Texas.
He threw for a career-high 25 touchdowns this season.
Earlier this week, Ewers played coy when he was asked about his future.
“I’m not sure yet, I’m just trying to win these games,” he told reporters Monday. “I haven’t thought about anything beyond that.”
The Longhorns will host Clemson at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
The game will air at 4 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN.