Kirk Herbstreit had one of those college football Saturdays that never really lets you exhale. He started the day in Salt Lake City with College GameDay, then landed in Austin for Ole Miss-Texas, where the closing sequence gave him exactly the kind of finish he was talking about.
On Sunday morning, Herbstreit posted video from the booth showing his reaction to Ole Miss’ late onside kick recovery against Texas. The clip catches him smiling and motioning for Rebels possession as the ball is recovered. He followed it up with a caption aimed at anyone who might have read too much into the reaction.
“I’m not rooting for Ole Miss - I’m rooting for a moment - which we got,” Herbstreit wrote. “Who doesn’t love seeing a great game come right down to the wire?! Moments like these are what make college football so SPECIAL.”
Still can’t believe this onside kick!
No- I’m not rooting for Ole Miss-I’m rooting for a moment-which we got. Who doesn’t love seeing a great game come right down to the wire?!
Moments like these are what make college football so SPECIAL. Congrats to the Longhorns and Arch on a… pic.twitter.com/Z3MyKaj7Y3
- Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) October 25, 2026
The finish was hard to picture after the way the game opened. Texas controlled the first half, building a 24-3 lead through two quarters.
Ole Miss fought back behind Trinidad Chambliss and pulled even at 24-24 in the fourth quarter, but Arch Manning answered with a 1-yard touchdown plunge to put the Longhorns back in front 31-24. Texas held that edge until the end.
Herbstreit will be in Bloomington for Week 9’s College GameDay ahead of Minnesota-Indiana.
In Other News...
Arch Manning Added One More Twist To Ole Miss Loss
Texas win over Ole Miss came with a little postgame theater, thanks to Arch Manning and a sideline conversation that added another layer to an already notable night. The game was carried by ABCs top broadcast crew, with Holly Rowe on the sideline, and Manning used the moment after the final whistle to make a lighthearted pitch that she ought to be around more often when Texas takes the field.
It was a playful line, but it also carried a bit of history behind it, since Rowe, Manning and coach Steve Sarkisian were all part of a previous dustup that had already been smoothed over. Against Ole Miss, the whole exchange served as a reminder that even after the game ends, there can still be a little extra edge and a little extra entertainment attached to Texas football. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Showed Fight At Texas But One Problem Just Got Bigger
Ole Miss left Austin with a loss, but not without evidence that the seasons bigger questions are still alive. After trailing 24-3 at halftime, the Rebels regrouped and turned a rough afternoon into a game that mattered deep into the second half, even if Texas eventually escaped with a 34-27 win. The first half was the problem area, with the offense stuck in neutral and quarterback Chambliss throwing an interception as the Rebels struggled to get anything going.
The second-half response was the encouraging part, because Ole Miss showed the kind of fight that can keep a season from slipping away after an early deficit. Still, the loss comes with real weight, especially with important games ahead that could shape the Rebels playoff position. The comeback effort bought some credibility, but it also left one lingering concern: the margin for error is getting smaller. [Read more 🡒]
Paul Finebaum Just Reopened A Painful Ole Miss Quarterback Debate
Paul Finebaums latest pass through the SEC quarterback conversation landed right back in a familiar place for Ole Miss fans, because the Rebels are again attached to a debate about whether the position is settling games or tilting them the other way. His criticism centered on late-game mistakes across the league, including Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, whose three interceptions came in a tight matchup with Texas, the kind of performance that keeps an already sensitive conversation around Oxford from going away.
For Ole Miss, the sting is less about one analysts opinion than the reminder of how quickly a quarterbacks mistakes can define a game and shape the conversation afterward. Finebaum also pointed to late errors by Tennessees George MacIntyre in a loss to South Carolina, but the Rebels piece of the discussion is the one their fans will keep hearing, especially with Texas and Ole Miss already tied together by another frustrating finish. [Read more 🡒]