Arch Manning’s afternoon against Ole Miss wasn’t clean, but it was enough to settle the quarterback noise for now.
Texas still got the ugly part too: two interceptions, a lost fumble and a third-quarter slide that nearly wiped out a 24-3 lead. Manning finished 18 of 30 for 212 yards and a touchdown, and the mistakes were real. They looked a lot like the same issues that showed up in the losses to Oklahoma and Florida - shaky decisions when the pocket tightened, missed chances, and an offense that lost its rhythm when the first plan stopped working.
But the final answer from that game is not just in the turnovers. It’s in what Manning did after them.
With the score tied 24-24 in the fourth quarter, he put together a six-play, 80-yard touchdown drive and capped it himself with a one-yard rushing score to push Texas back ahead. Earlier, he had thrown a touchdown pass and added two rushing touchdowns, showing a version of himself that gave the offense something more than just arm talent.
His legs mattered. So did the way he kept competing instead of letting his mistakes take over the night.
That’s why Texas should stop acting like every rough stretch at quarterback has to reopen the whole conversation. Steve Sarkisian stuck with Manning even while asking for better play, and the Ole Miss win gave the coach a reason to keep doing that. Manning has earned the chance to lead this team through November.
That does not mean the leash disappears. It means Texas has more to gain by helping him grow than by turning every bad throw into a new debate.
KJ Lacey is still there, and competition at quarterback always matters. But swapping starters does not magically erase protection problems, uneven execution or an offense that can get stuck in neutral. Texas has to solve those issues as a unit, not pretend a different name under center fixes everything.
Manning, for his part, still has work to do. He has to see pressure faster, protect the ball better and become more dependable when defenses take away his first read. The three turnovers against Ole Miss can’t become a habit, especially with SEC games ahead that matter for the postseason picture.
Even so, Texas has seen enough to know this isn’t about demanding perfection before allowing growth. Manning has shown arm talent, mobility and the kind of competitive edge that justifies continued trust.
The Longhorns already know what their offense looks like when it loses its way in the second half. The next move is to give Manning a steadier structure, better help and a clear standard to chase.
November should be about what this Texas team can become with Manning steering it, not whether the job will be thrown back open every Saturday. The Longhorns made their call against Ole Miss. Now they need to stick with it.
In Other News...
Texas Fans Wont Like What One Sarkisian Call Revealed
Early in the third quarter against Ole Miss, Steve Sarkisian went to a mesh concept that should have given Texas a clean answer in the passing game. Freshman wide receiver Jermaine Bishop and fifth-year tight end Michael Masunas were the crossers, but the play never got the rhythm it needed, with timing and spacing breaking down before it could develop.
Arch Mannings footwork also looked off under pressure from the defensive line, and the result was an unsuccessful snap that ended in a three-and-out. For a Texas offense that needs cleaner execution in key moments, it was a small sequence that said plenty about where the unit still has work to do. [Read more 🡒]
Trevor Goosby News Leaves Texas Facing A Bigger NFL Reality
Trevor Goosbys season-ending surgery closed the book on one of the more sobering developments in Texas year, but it also underscored how quickly the conversation around his future has shifted from college football to the NFL. The Longhorns left tackle had the procedure performed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Daniel Cooper to repair a torn patellar tendon, and the expectation is that he will make a full recovery with no residual effects.
Goosby will miss the rest of the season, leaving Texas to regroup without one of its most highly regarded young blockers. Even with the injury, he remains viewed as a potential top pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, which is part of what makes this setback feel bigger than a single lost year and more like an early reminder of how much is riding on his health going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Passing Game Faces A Real Test Against Mississippi State
Texas has spent the first part of the season trying to get its passing game into a rhythm, and the numbers have shown it. Through seven games, the Longhorns rank 74th in passing yards per game, which leaves plenty of room for improvement as the schedule tightens and defenses start looking more comfortable taking away the obvious answers.
Mississippi State figures to be a stern next test on the perimeter. Cornerbacks Jett Jefferson and Kelley Jones have both graded well on the defensive side, and Jones already has a history with Texas after intercepting Arch Manning last season. With Ryan Wingo and Cam Coleman among the receivers likely to draw his attention again, Texas will have to prove its passing game can hold up against one of the better cornerback groups it has seen. [Read more 🡒]