In a surprising move, Maalik Murphy, the former backup quarterback to Quinn Ewers at Texas, has committed to transferring to Duke, according to ESPN. This decision comes after Mike Elko left his position as head coach at Duke, with Manny Diaz stepping in as the new head coach. Murphy, a redshirt freshman, will have three years of eligibility remaining and will be able to play immediately under Diaz's leadership.

Duke's quarterback position became vacant when Riley Leonard announced his transfer to Notre Dame for his final year of eligibility. This created an opportunity for Murphy to make his mark at Duke and continue his football career. Murphy started two games for Texas this season, filling in for the injured Ewers in victories against BYU and Kansas State. In those games, he threw for 477 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions. Despite his success, Murphy decided to enter the transfer portal to pursue what he believes is best for his future.

Murphy expressed his disappointment at leaving Texas, stating, "I'm super-invested in this team. Everything that we've done along the way and all the work we've put in together, it's hard to walk away, especially at this point during the season." However, he also emphasized his desire to find a school where he can play, continue to improve, and be surrounded by great people and players.

With Murphy's departure, it opens the door for Arch Manning, a highly anticipated freshman quarterback, to back up Ewers in the College Football Playoff (CFP) for Texas. Manning made his debut in Texas' final regular-season game against Texas Tech, playing the entire fourth quarter. Head coach Steve Sarkisian praised Manning's performance, stating, "I've never seen a quarterback go into the game as a backup. When Arch went in, I mean, the crowd was buzzing. We had to try to quiet the crowd."

This transfer not only impacts the quarterback depth chart at Texas but also sets the stage for Manning to potentially take the reins in Austin once Ewers likely departs for the professional ranks. Coach Sarkisian expressed his confidence in Manning, saying, "He's more than capable of playing really good football for us. I think the opportunity that he had to play here against Tech showed what he's capable of, and we'll get him prepared to play. I joked with him the other day, 'You're not really a freshman anymore. This is your sophomore year now.'"

As for Duke, the addition of Murphy brings an exciting prospect to their team under the leadership of head coach Manny Diaz. Diaz, previously the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Penn State, was hired as the Blue Devils' head coach on December 7th. Diaz reportedly had a close relationship with Murphy, having known him since middle school, according to 247Sports. This connection likely played a significant role in Murphy's decision to transfer to Duke.

In the meantime, Texas is preparing for their upcoming CFP matchup against Washington on New Year's Day in the Sugar Bowl. The Longhorns will look to secure their first national title since 2005. The winner of this game will advance to face the victor between Michigan and Alabama, adding to the stakes of the matchup.