Missouri’s afternoon against Texas had the kind of rhythm that never let either side get comfortable. Every time the Tigers landed a punch, the Longhorns had an answer waiting. By the end of the 34-20 loss in Columbia, that back-and-forth had tilted firmly Texas’ way.
The Tigers struck first when Austin Simmons hit Brett Norfleet for a touchdown on fourth-and-goal on the opening drive. Texas answered right back, with Arch Manning finding Derrek Cooper on a 24-yard touchdown pass. From there, the game settled into a pattern of quick replies and short-lived momentum swings.
That script carried through the first half and into the third quarter. Blake Craig opened the second half with a 48-yard field goal, only for Gianni Spectic to match it with a 33-yard kick the next time Texas had the ball. Later, Missouri broke loose for a 72-yard touchdown when Naeshaun Montgomery spun free and sprinted into the end zone, but Manning and the Longhorns responded again, this time with a touchdown pass to Jermaine Bishop Jr.
Missouri briefly had a chance to keep pace to start the fourth quarter, but couldn’t cash in. Texas then followed with a score of its own, and after both teams traded empty possessions, the Longhorns finally separated themselves. A sack of Simmons by Colton Vasek helped force a long third down for Missouri, and when the Tigers couldn’t convert, Texas seized control.
The biggest blow came late, when Manning connected with Raleek Brown for a 23-yard touchdown. Manning finished 28-for-38 with 297 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Simmons went 23-for-43 for 252 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Missouri still had two more chances to answer after that, but the final one ended the game. On a third-down throw to Cayden Lee, Warren Roberson delivered a hard hit that jarred the ball loose, and the turnover set Texas up in the red zone. Brown finished the drive with an 8-yard touchdown run to make it 34-20.
Special teams played a major role in the swings, too. Craig opened with a 22-yard field goal, and DaMarion Fowlkes added a 27-yard punt return in the first quarter. But the unit hit rough patches in the second quarter, when Craig missed a 38-yard field goal wide left and Brunno Reus had a punt blocked after holding the ball too long.
Missouri steadied things after halftime, with Craig adding another field goal and Jackson Hancock and Cameron Keys forcing and recovering a punt-return fumble. Even so, Craig later missed from 46 yards in the third quarter, and a short Reus punt gave Texas a short field that the Longhorns quickly turned into a 27-20 lead.
Missouri now heads to Athens, Georgia, next week for its final road game of the season against No. 2 Georgia (7-1, 5-1).
In Other News...
Missouri Fans Have Every Right To Be Furious With The SEC
Missouris latest frustration with the SEC came in the kind of moment that lingers long after the final whistle. During a recent football game, a replay review upheld a ruling that a Missouri forward fumble was recovered by the offense, a decision that kept a Texas drive alive and eventually led to a touchdown. Eli Drinkwitz addressed the officiating afterward, but he stopped short of directly blaming the officials, knowing how quickly that can turn into a fine.
The SEC later issued its own explanation, saying the replay crew did not have clear and obvious video evidence to overturn the call. Even with that clarification, the sequence only added to the sense of grievance around Missouri, where fans were left watching a pivotal possession swing on a review that the league says met the standard but many in Columbia will never view the same way. [Read more 🡒]
Missouri Just Got A Ranking Snub At The Worst Time
Missouris stumble against Texas came with an extra sting on Sunday, when the Tigers fell out of the US LBM Coaches Poll altogether. A week after sitting at No. 19, they are now the second team outside the top 25, a reminder of how quickly one loss can change the national view of a team trying to stay in the SEC race.
The timing makes the drop feel even sharper with Georgia next on the schedule, a matchup that will give Missouri an immediate chance to change the conversation. For a team that had been climbing the rankings, the margin for error is suddenly much thinner, and the path back into the poll now runs straight through one of the toughest tests on the calendar. [Read more 🡒]
Missouri Let A Huge Opportunity Slip Away Against Texas
Missouri had a chance to turn a marquee matchup into a statement win, but Texas kept finding answers when the game tightened. Arch Manning threw for 297 yards and three touchdowns, including the go-ahead strike to Raleek Brown, and No. 10 Texas pulled away for a 34-20 victory over No. 19 Missouri in a game that featured multiple video reviews and the first meeting between the programs since 2017.
Austin Simmons did his part for Missouri with 252 passing yards and two touchdowns, but the Tigers could not match Texas late. The Longhorns made key defensive plays in the fourth quarter to close it out, leaving Missouri to wonder how much different the night might have looked if a few pivotal moments had gone the other way. [Read more 🡒]