The curious case of Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and his future—thanks to wild NIL (name, image, and likeness) rumors—has extended into the College Football Playoff semifinals.
Ahead of the Longhorns facing Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night, Ewers had to dismiss multiple questions during his media day session about where he will play next season.
“I’d be doing a disservice to my teammates to be even thinking about what’s next because what’s right in front of us isn’t over yet,” said Ewers, a senior who has one year of eligibility remaining.
Heading into this season, Ewers had high NFL Draft stock, but that has fallen some, and the idea of transferring to a school that could pay him a big NIL sum next season has gained steam. “That’s too selfish of thinking—for me to be even thinking about what’s next,” Ewers said. The quarterback is said to have received a $6 million NIL offer to enter the transfer portal, according to On3.
Texas has redshirt freshman quarterback Arch Manning waiting in the wings, so the only option for Ewers to start in college next season may be outside of Austin. “Right now, I’m just not worried about all that stuff,” Ewers said. “People can say all they want to say, but I’m just focused on Friday at this point in time.”
Weighing the Odds
If Ewers were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, he would be guaranteed at minimum a four-year, $13 million contract, according to Spotrac projections. That guaranteed payout drops to under $7 million at the bottom of the second round, and to just over $4 million in the third.
Cam Ward was projected as a second- to fourth-round prospect last season. He transferred from Washington State to Miami and benefited from a healthy NIL deal, and now profiles as a top-10 pick with a contract exceeding $20 million.
So, a big NIL deal for one more season of college football—and the chance to improve his NFL Draft stock for 2026—could be enough for Ewers to stay in school, even if it’s not at Texas.
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