Raleek Brown and Ryan Wingo may have grabbed most of the attention in Texas’ 34-27 win over Ole Miss, but the Longhorns also got real production from three players who had spent much of the season on the margins.
That mattered because Texas didn’t just win on star power. With injuries shaking up the rotation, Steve Sarkisian needed answers from players who hadn’t seen many chances before, and a few of them delivered in a way that could change how the final stretch of the season looks.
On defense, Texas was down Colin Simmons, who was sidelined with an ankle injury, and Richard Wesley was unavailable. That opened the door for Aaron Spence, and he made the most of it.
In only 28 defensive snaps, Spence piled up a team-high four quarterback pressures, per PFF. His 75.1 PFF grade was his second-best mark of the season and his best against a Power Four opponent.
Spence’s value wasn’t limited to getting after Trinidad Chambliss. He also twice brought the quarterback down on third-down scrambles short of the line to gain, including a stop on third-and-10 that held Ole Miss to two yards on its final possession.
The Rebels still managed to convert on fourth down both times - the first came on a fake punt - but Spence had already done enough to show Texas something useful. Even when Simmons returns, that kind of production in a limited role is hard to ignore.
Michael Masunas also made his case. The Michigan State transfer had played just 75 snaps over Texas’ first six games, then jumped to a season-high 56 against Ole Miss.
He caught three passes for 37 yards, which were his first receptions as a Longhorn, and finished second on the team in receiving yards. Two of those catches moved the chains, including an 18-yard grab early in the fourth quarter.
His impact showed up in the run game, too. On what may have been two of Brown’s most memorable runs against the Rebels - a 47-yard burst and a fourth-and-1 conversion on Texas’ own 26-yard line - Masunas helped seal the edge. For a tight end group that has struggled to find consistency, that kind of showing stood out.
Then there was Michael Terry III, who turned a short-handed situation into his biggest opportunity yet. With Hollywood Smothers unavailable and Derrek Cooper dealing with an injury, Terry got his chance and made it count. He had logged only 10 carries through Texas’ first six games, but against Ole Miss he carried eight times for 41 yards and scored his first collegiate touchdown.
His biggest moments came at a critical point. With the game tied at 24 in the fourth quarter, Terry took back-to-back handoffs after Brown’s long run and turned them into gains of 12 and 19 yards, pushing Texas all the way to the Ole Miss 1-yard line. Two plays later, Arch Manning scored the go-ahead touchdown.
For Sarkisian, that kind of performance creates a decision. Terry may have started the night as a depth option pressed into service by injuries, but he may have played his way into a larger role even when the backfield gets healthy again.
In Other News...
Texas Fans Just Got A Halloween Gameday Reason To Arrive Early
Longhorn fans heading to Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Oct. 31 have an extra reason to get there early, with Longhorn City Limits presented by Hollister set for a Halloween edition on the LBJ Lawn before Texas takes on Mississippi State. The pregame scene will feature Uncle Kracker and special guest Julianna Rankin, along with free admission and the kind of tailgate atmosphere that has become part of the gameday rhythm around the stadium.
The event will also include food and beverage offerings for fans 21 and older, adding another layer to what is already shaping up as a full-day experience around the football game. Athletics director Chris Del Conte pointed to the festivities as part of the broader gameday package, and for Texas supporters, it is another chance to make a night game feel like more than just what happens between the lines. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Fans May Not Expect How Reachable This Halloween Game Feels
The atmosphere around Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium has stayed as tight as ever, with all 2026 home games sold out before the season even began, extending Texas run of sellouts to five straight years. Still, one of the more surprising byproducts of that demand is that the upcoming Mississippi State game is not out of reach for fans looking for a seat, at least not compared with what you might expect for a sold-out fall date in Austin.
Tickets are only showing up on resale platforms, but the market for this one has been relatively friendly, with listings generally starting under $100. For a Texas home game with the stadium already spoken for, that makes this Halloween matchup look more accessible than plenty of other dates involving either the Longhorns or the Bulldogs, even if the final price will depend on where buyers are willing to shop. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Injury Report Leaves One Huge Question For The Playoff Push
Texas has reached the part of the season where every injury report feels heavier than the last, and the latest one only underscores how thin the margin is for a team still trying to navigate the playoff push. The Longhorns will head into the Mississippi State game without starting left tackle Trevor Goosby, who is out for the season with a knee injury, a blow that changes the look of the offensive front at a crucial time.
There is some good news mixed in, with running back Hollywood Smothers and wide receiver Cam Coleman both listed as probable after working back from injuries. The biggest lingering question, though, centers on star pass rusher Colin Simmons, who has been upgraded to questionable status because of an ankle injury, leaving Texas to wait and see whether one of its most important defensive playmakers will be available when it needs him most. [Read more 🡒]