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Texas kept its College Football Playoff hopes alive with a 33-30 overtime win against defending Big 12 champ Kansas State. However, those dreams will go up in smoke if quarterback Quinn Ewers misses much more time.
Freshman Maalik Murphy started for the second consecutive week and after a phenomenal start in the first quarter, looked like someone playing in only his sixth-career college game during the final 45 minutes and overtime.
Following the first quarter, he was 12-of-26 for 96 yards with two interceptions. Texas led 27-7 in the third quarter before the Wildcats went on a 23-3 run to send the game into overtime.
Murphy finished the game 19-of-37 for 248 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Sophomore Ewers is one of the most improved passers in college football this season. He’s completing 70.9 percent of his attempts this season after only completing 58.1 percent of his passes as a freshman. Ewers has thrown for 1,915 yards (nine yards per attempt) with 13 touchdowns and three interceptions.
Murphy has shown enough in his two starts to know that he’ll be fine in the coming years as he develops. Texas’s playoff chances won’t be if Ewers’ health is a concern.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on Saturday morning that it’s possible Ewers (shoulder) will play in Week 11 at TCU (4-5, 2-4 in Big 12). The Horned Frogs are experiencing a hangover after reaching the CFP finals a year ago but have won seven of the past nine meetings against the Longhorns. Texas follows that with a road game against Iowa State (5-3, 4-1 in Big 12), a program that could still reach the conference championship game by winning out.
Whenever Ewers returns, it will be to a playoff contender whose hopes rest in his hands.
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