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Texas football fans experienced a moment of sheer panic on Monday afternoon when an Instagram post claimed that star quarterback Quinn Ewers would be opting out of the season to focus on the NFL Draft. With the Longhorns in the thick of their schedule and Ewers at the helm, the post sent shockwaves across social media, sparking intense speculation and uncertainty about the future of Texas' season.
The Instagram post, which originated from 247 Sports, quickly gained traction and had fans scrambling for answers. Rumors began swirling about what could have prompted such a decision, with some speculating that Ewers' recent in-game struggles may have played a role. However, within hours, the post vanished, leaving many to wonder if the news had been premature or simply false.
As it turns out, the latter was the case. Multiple sources confirmed that Ewers had, in fact, attended practice that day and was preparing for Texas' game against Vanderbilt. The mysterious post? A product of a hacked social media , according to Chip Brown, a reporter covering the Longhorns for 247 Sports. Brown assured fans that the post was not only inaccurate but the result of unauthorized access to the platform.
The situation took another turn when Ewers himself addressed the rumors. At approximately 6:20 p.m. ET on Monday evening, the Texas quarterback posted on his Instagram story, featuring an image of Donald Trump accompanied by the phrase "Fake News," a clear shot at the erroneous report that had briefly dominated headlines.
Sarkisian defends benching decision as Ewers refocuses for the season
This flare-up comes on the heels of Texas' tough loss to Georgia over the weekend. Ewers had a shaky performance, leading head coach Steve Sarkisian to temporarily replace him with freshman phenom Arch Manning. Ewers later returned to the game, but the damage was done, and the Longhorns were unable to mount a comeback. Sarkisian explained the decision postgame, citing the need to give Ewers a mental reset.
"My feeling in the game was I felt Quinn was a little uneasy," Sarkisian said. "I wanted to give him a chance to step back, regroup, and reassess before bringing him back in for the second half. It worked. He came out more composed and played a solid third quarter."
With the sting of the loss and Ewers' temporary benching still fresh, Monday's social media frenzy acted as a powder keg, igniting speculation about the quarterback's commitment to the team. But by the evening, Ewers had effectively put the rumors to bed, confirming his focus remained on leading the Longhorns through the remainder of the season.
Texas will now turn its attention to Vanderbilt, with Ewers firmly in place as the starting quarterback. The deleted post, while unsettling for a few hours, seems to be nothing more than a glitch in the world of college football news cycles. As for Ewers, his actions speak louder than any post: he's not going anywhere, and Texas still has plenty of football to play.