Arch Manning wasted no time answering the challenge Saturday against Ole Miss.
Texas’ quarterback has the Longhorns in front 17-3 early, and he’s done it in two different ways: on the ground and through the air. Manning scored Texas’ first touchdown himself, then came back to deliver the second with a 50-yard strike to Ryan Wingo.
The throw to Wingo was the kind of pass that changes the feel of a game in an instant. Manning dropped it right into place for the star receiver, giving Texas a two-touchdown cushion.
He also kept a drive alive earlier by scrambling through the middle of the Ole Miss defense to convert a 3rd-and-15, a play that showed he’s not just winning with arm talent. He’s making the Rebels defend every inch.
Manning had already flashed the deep ball before that touchdown connection, too. Texas had another chance at a big play when he uncorked a perfect pass under pressure, but Cam Coleman couldn’t hang on for the catch.
The strong start comes after Manning was publicly challenged by his head coach this week. Following last week’s loss, Steve Sarkisian decided to give more first-team reps to backup quarterback KJ Lacey, and the move seems to have brought out one of Manning’s best performances at the college level.
Texas is also fighting a bigger picture battle. The Longhorns are staring at the possibility of missing the College Football Playoff for the second straight season, and they may need to win out to have a shot at the 12-team field.
In Other News...
Texas Faces One Brutal Test Protecting Arch Manning Against Ole Miss
Ole Miss has spent much of this season proving it belongs in the national conversation, and the Rebels defense has been a big reason why. Pete Goldings group has already faced four ranked opponents and come away with three wins, a run that has helped establish the kind of edge and consistency teams need in the heart of conference play. Now the Rebels are getting another showcase opportunity, with Texas coming in after slipping from No. 1 to No. 19 on the heels of back-to-back losses.
For Ole Miss, the matchup is less about the Longhorns slide and more about the chance to keep bringing pressure the way it has against top competition. The Rebels have been especially effective rushing the passer, and that is where this game could tilt if Texas cannot keep Arch Manning upright. Ole Miss still has some offensive areas to clean up, but this is the kind of stage where its defense can do the talking again and force one of the SECs most scrutinized teams to answer a tough road question. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Gets One More Jolt Of Hype Before Texas Showdown
The buildup to Ole Miss trip to Austin already had the feel of a measuring-stick game, and the stakes only got bigger with the No. 7 Rebels headed into a ranked conference showdown against No. 19 Texas. With College Football Playoff implications hanging over it, the matchup has become one of the weekends most closely watched games, and the talk around it has only intensified as Texas sorts through personnel questions before kickoff.
The Longhorns are expected to be without key players Colin Simmons and Hollywood Smothers, and there is even uncertainty at quarterback, with backup KJ Lacey Jr. taking more first-team reps than usual. Add in a round of predictions from Desmond Howard, Nick Saban, Pat McAfee and Dalton Kincaid, most of whom backed Ole Miss, and the Rebels arrive in Austin with no shortage of outside belief riding along with them. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Suddenly Has A Bigger Problem Than Ole Miss's Rally
Texas looked like it had things under control before Ole Miss started chipping away, but the bigger concern for the Longhorns may have come from the sideline rather than the scoreboard. Wide receiver Cam Coleman left with a right shoulder injury after a diving attempt, and offensive lineman Trevor Goosby also exited with a knee injury, a rough turn for a team already trying to manage its depth in a meaningful SEC game.
The injury list is only adding to Texas problems, with running back Hollywood Smothers and edge rusher Colin Simmons already out. For a team that needed to steady itself while fending off an Ole Miss rally, the health of key pieces now matters just as much as the result on the field. [Read more 🡒]