The No. 21 Texas Longhorns will begin their journey in the 2021 NCAA football season at home against the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns on Saturday with Hudson Card starting under center. That’s the decision Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian has made, leaving  Casey Thompson in a supporting role. 

Card and Thompson battled for the starting position left by former Longhorns gunslinger Sam Ehlinger for the most part of the offseason. It was a close race between the two, but Sarkisian had to draw the line somewhere.

Via Dave Wilson of ESPN:

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“Hudson's a very talented young man he's got great work ethic, he really tries to operate the way we want to operate,” Sarkisian said. “As I told Casey, it's really not a knock on Casey. Both guys really started to perform very well after that first scrimmage, and it was a tough call.”

Although it’s Card who’s won the gig, it doesn’t mean Thompson’s out of the picture completely for the Longhorns QB1 role. Sarkisian will still give Thompson time on the field, perhaps because he’s yet to make up his mind permanently. Plus, No. 23 Louisiana offers a sturdy test for both quarterbacks, neither of whom has experience as a college starter.  

“He'll be starting against Louisiana,” Sarkisian said. “Casey's gonna play. When, how much, I'm not exactly certain. I think there's got to be a feel to the game. Hudson's earned the right to be the starter, but somewhere in this game, Casey's gonna get his opportunities as well.”