Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, who has landed lucrative NIL deals and also changed schools via the transfer portal, has become the face of this "new era of college football," says coach Steve Sarkisian.

Quinn Ewers nearly got to the top of the mountain two years in a row, but the Texas QB ultimately fell short in the College Football Playoff. Arguably, the Longhorns were a play or two away against Washington and Ohio State in back to back semifinals.

In an interview with ESPN's Pete Thamel ahead of the Longhorns' Cotton Bowl matchup against Ohio State, Ewers said he does not expect to return to college football and plans to play in the NFL next season.