Arch Manning didn’t need long to settle Texas in, and once he did, Mississippi State never really got back in the picture.
The No. 11 Longhorns beat the Bulldogs 31-3 on Saturday behind Manning’s sharpest showing in a while. He finished 16 of 20 for 220 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, pushing Texas to 6-2 and giving the Longhorns back-to-back wins.
The passing game had plenty of pop from the start. On Texas’ first possession, Manning hit Cam Coleman for 47 yards, then found him again for a 14-yard touchdown. Coleman, back after a shoulder injury that limited him against Ole Miss, wasted no time showing why he matters so much in Sarkisian’s offense.
Manning added another scoring strike to Raleek Brown in the third quarter, giving Texas its first third-quarter touchdown since the season opener against Texas State. That mattered for an offense that has had trouble keeping things rolling after halftime. His third touchdown pass helped put the game away.
For Manning, it was the kind of efficient night Texas needed after his uneven stretch earlier in the month. His 80 percent completion rate stood out, especially after he had three turnovers against Ole Miss. He did cough up a fumble in the third quarter, but Mississippi State could only turn that into a field goal.
Texas’ defense made sure that was about as dangerous as the Bulldogs ever got. The Longhorns piled up seven sacks, with linebacker Rasheem Biles accounting for three and forcing two fumbles. Maraad Watson delivered another big moment late in the first half, scooping up a fumble and taking it back for a touchdown.
Even with the score lopsided, the ground game left plenty to chew on. Texas managed only 60 yards on 32 carries, a 1.9-yard average, after putting up 207 rushing yards against Ole Miss last weekend. That drop-off came against a Mississippi State defense that entered the game among the nation’s most vulnerable against the run.
Raleek Brown, who went off for 157 rushing yards against Ole Miss, was held to 30 yards on eight carries. Michael Terry III added 16 yards on four attempts. The Longhorns never found the kind of balance Sarkisian wants, and that’s the part that lingers with tougher SEC games ahead.
Texas won comfortably because Manning was efficient and the defense was overwhelming. But the Longhorns know they can’t lean on sacks, turnovers and defensive scores every week.
In Other News...
Texas Took Care Of Mississippi State But Left With A Bigger Problem
Texas handled Mississippi State comfortably on the scoreboard, but the win came with a heavy injury toll that could matter far more in the days ahead. Five key players were hurt during the 31-3 victory, including wide receivers Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo, running back Hollywood Smothers and defensive backs Graceson Littleton and Kade Phillips, leaving a postgame mood that was noticeably more cautious than celebratory.
Sarkisian confirmed the injuries and said the full severity is still unknown, with updates expected midweek. That uncertainty lands at an awkward time for a Texas team already dealing with absences, including offensive tackle Trevor Goosby, who is out for the season, and it turns a routine SEC win into a much bigger health check for the stretch ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Just Got A Ranking Edge That May Not Last
The AP Top 25 gave Texas a small but meaningful bump this week, sliding the Longhorns ahead of Ohio State after Texas comeback win earlier in the season and the Buckeyes recent loss to USC. It is the kind of early November shift that matters less for bragging rights than for the larger playoff picture, especially for a Texas team still trying to strengthen its case with the season entering its most revealing stretch.
The Coaches Poll told a different story, keeping Ohio State in front despite the head-to-head result and underscoring how much disagreement still exists over how to weigh a loss against a marquee win. That split could carry into the College Football Playoff committees first rankings, and Texas may not have long to enjoy any edge it has picked up, with ranked opponents still ahead on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Still Has Something To Prove After Another Poll Slight
Texas handled Mississippi State 31-3 with a performance that looked every bit like a team trying to steady itself in the second half of the season, leaning on a strong defensive effort and three touchdown passes from Arch Manning. The win pushed the Longhorns to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in SEC play, but it still did not move the needle much in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll, where Texas sits at No. 11.
The slight stings a little more because Ohio State remains one spot ahead at No. 10 despite a recent loss, a reminder that the rankings still have not fully caught up to what Texas has put on the field. Other movement around the poll only sharpened the sense that the Longhorns will need to keep piling up convincing wins, especially with the first College Football Playoff rankings still ahead and a clearer verdict on Texas still to come. [Read more 🡒]