On Friday night, Texas will compete against Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, with a chance to reach the College Football Playoff championship game.

If the Longhorns do not succeed, it could mark the end of their starting quarterback’s college journey.

In a conversation with ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Texas QB Quinn Ewers disclosed that he doesn’t foresee playing college football next year, clarifying rumors surrounding the pivotal role at this prominent program.

Ewers has held the starting position for the Longhorns over the last three seasons, still having one year of eligibility left if he chooses to utilize it.

This season, he has completed 66.5% of his passes for 3,189 yards, throwing 29 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, leading his team to a 13-2 record and a place in the semifinals. Many of his key statistics have seen a decline compared to 2023, when he completed 69% of his passes for 3,479 yards, achieved 22 touchdowns, and recorded only six interceptions, helping the Longhorns capture a Big 12 championship and their debut College Football Playoff appearance.

The speculation surrounding Ewers’ future stems from various factors.

If he opts for the 2025 NFL draft, which he seemingly hinted at during his interview with ESPN, he is considered one of the top quarterbacks available. Conversely, if he stays in college, questions arise about whether he would retain his starting role at Texas, where redshirt freshman and touted five-star recruit Arch Manning has been backing him up for the last two seasons, or if he would enter the transfer portal, instantly becoming a coveted quarterback.

On December 31, On3 Sports reported that Ewers received a $6 million name, image, and likeness offer to transfer. This report referenced unnamed sources and did not reveal any specific schools interested in Ewers.

“I think it’s selfish of me to even consider that,” Ewers stated earlier this week before the Cotton Bowl. “I owe it to my teammates to give my best effort. I can’t be focused on the future or I might stumble over the obstacles in front of me. I need to focus on what’s right here and now.”

Entering college football, Ewers was surrounded by high expectations, being the top-rated recruit nationally in the 2021 recruiting class according to 247 Sports and one of the highest-ranked quarterback prospects ever on recruiting sites.

The native of Southlake, Texas began his college career at Ohio State, where he was among the first college athletes to secure a notable NIL deal. He spent a season as a backup to C.J. Stroud at the Buckeyes before transferring to Texas after the 2021 season.