Texas had to sweat all the way to the finish, but the Longhorns found just enough late to beat Ole Miss 34-27 on Saturday and stop their own unraveling in the final minutes.
The closing sequence told the story. After the Rebels wiped out a 21-point halftime hole, Texas answered with an 80-yard march in six plays. Arch Manning finished it himself, scoring his second rushing touchdown of the night to put the Longhorns back in front for good.
Ole Miss still had one more shot. The Rebels recovered an onside kick, pushed the ball inside the Texas 30-yard line and had a final chance to force a tie before Trinidad Chambliss’ desperation throw was intercepted in the end zone as time expired.
Texas spent the first half looking like the team that had finally settled in on offense. Steve Sarkisian said earlier in the week that he had challenged Manning and the rest of the unit in practice, and the message landed early. Manning threw for 171 yards and a touchdown, Texas piled up 258 total yards, and the Longhorns carried a 24-3 lead into halftime.
The second half, though, turned into another reminder that Texas still makes life hard on itself. Manning started the third quarter with the ball, but Ole Miss immediately flipped the game with a strip-sack touchdown on the quarterback.
That play appeared to shake both Manning and the offensive line. Texas managed only 19 total yards in the third quarter while the Rebels moved the ball repeatedly and eventually drew even.
Manning later tossed his second interception of the game, but Texas’ defense kept the damage from getting worse. That stop set up the decisive possession, and Manning responded with the game-winning drive when the Longhorns needed it most.
In Other News...
Texas Fans Finally Got Clarity On That Costly Fourth Down
A week after Texas' loss to Florida left fans debating a costly fourth-and-2 decision, athletics director Chris Del Conte stepped in to clear up the confusion around Bevo Lab. The Longhorns launched the AI-driven sports intelligence platform as part of a push to add more data-backed insight across the department, and the fourth-down play quickly became part of the conversation as supporters tried to figure out whether the technology had played a role in the call.
Del Conte said the example was meant to show what Bevo Lab could suggest, not what it actually did in that situation. Even with the recent losses stirring unease, he said he is not panicking and made clear that the expectations in Austin remain high, which only adds more intrigue to how Texas will balance analytics, coaching judgment and the pressure that comes with every decision moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Cam Coleman Adds Another Worry To Texas Passing Game
Cam Colemans night against Ole Miss ended early after he hurt his shoulder and was escorted to the locker room for evaluation, adding another layer of concern to a Texas passing game that has already been searching for steadier production. Coleman was expected to be a key piece for the Longhorns, but the outing only reinforced how much the offense has leaned on other options when he has not been able to settle in cleanly.
Before exiting, Coleman had one catch for 12 yards, while Ryan Wingo led the receiving corps. For Texas, the injury is the latest issue in a receiver room that has been trying to find consistency, and Colemans status will be watched closely as the Longhorns move forward. [Read more 🡒]
Pete Golding Sees A Different Problem In Texas' Offense
A little more than halfway through the season, Texas offensive unevenness has invited plenty of blame, but Ole Miss coach Pete Golding pointed to a different layer of the problem. He suggested the Longhorns issues have not just been about bad playcalling or sloppy execution, but also the kind of breaks that can snowball on a young offense, from dropped passes to missed chances that change the feel of a drive.
Golding still acknowledged the real flaws in Texas attack, from an inconsistent running game to the pressure that has put Arch Manning in difficult spots. Even so, he framed the Longhorns as a talented, well-coached group whose numbers hint at more than one simple explanation, and his view adds another wrinkle to the conversation around an offense still searching for steadier rhythm. [Read more 🡒]