Texas does not have much margin for error left, and that makes this weekend’s visit from No. 7 Ole Miss a defining test. With two losses already, the Longhorns cannot take a third if they want any hope of staying in the College Football Playoffs picture.
That puts a spotlight on a handful of Texas players who will shape the outcome in Austin, where the Rebels bring plenty of talent on both sides of the ball. For the Longhorns, the game may come down to whether their key pieces can rise to the moment.
The biggest offensive swing factor may be Ryan Wingo’s teammate, receiver Coleman. Texas brought Coleman in to be a difference-maker and lift the passing game, but that hasn’t fully happened yet.
Wingo has been the main volume target, while Coleman has still managed to score six touchdowns this season. If Texas can get him involved, it could force Ole Miss to deal with a wider field and a secondary that has had issues this year, before last week’s game against the Mizzou Tigers.
Of course, Coleman’s impact depends on Arch Manning finding a rhythm again. Texas needs the version of Manning it saw in the second half of the 2025 season, not the one giving defenses extra chances with turnovers. Efficiency matters here, and Manning said this week he would "let it rip" - but he has to do it without handing Ole Miss easy breaks.
On the other side of the ball, Texas may be without its most dangerous disruptor. Star edge Colin Simmons is expected to miss the game, which leaves the Longhorns without their sack leader.
He has more sacks this season than the rest of the team combined, so someone else has to pick up the pressure. Jackson needs to get into the backfield and help the defensive front resemble the group Texas has had when Simmons is available.
That burden also falls on Biles, who will be asked to do even more with Simmons out. He can move around and make plays in a variety of spots, and Ole Miss will have to keep track of him throughout the game. His job will include containing Trinidad Chambliss and creating pass rush whenever Texas needs it most.
The running game may also become critical if Manning doesn’t start fast. Hollywood Smothers is dealing with an injury, and freshman Derrek Cooper was not 100 percent last week, so Raleek Brown could end up carrying the load against Ole Miss. Texas has not yet had a ground attack that truly overwhelmed anyone this season, but Brown may need to be the engine if the Longhorns are forced to lean on the run early.
In Other News...
Texas Fans Finally Got Clarity On That Costly Fourth Down
When Texas athletics director Chris Del Conte talked about the Longhorns recent loss to Florida, one detail drew plenty of attention: the fourth-and-2 call that became a flashpoint afterward. Del Conte cleared up the confusion by saying the AI-driven Bevo Lab platform was not actually behind that decision, explaining that he had used the play as an example of the kind of suggestion the system could provide rather than something it specifically dictated.
Bevo Lab remains Texas sports intelligence platform, part of the programs push to fold more data and analytics into decision-making. Even with the recent losses piling up, Del Conte said he is not panicking and still expects a lot from the Longhorns, which is the standard at Texas whether the questions are about game management or the broader direction of the program. [Read more 🡒]
Pete Golding Sees A Different Problem In Texas' Offense
Texas offense has spent much of the season drawing scrutiny for the stops and starts that have kept it from looking as smooth as expected, but Ole Miss coach Pete Golding offered a different read on the situation. He pointed to more than just playcalling or execution, noting the kinds of small losses that can snowball over a game and across a season, including dropped passes and missed chances that have changed the feel of drives.
Golding also acknowledged the obvious flaws, from trouble getting the running game established to the pressure that has been on Arch Manning, while still framing the Longhorns as a team with plenty of talent and coaching. The bigger question, though, is whether Texas offensive issues are mostly a matter of tightening up the details or if the larger problem runs deeper than the recent numbers suggest. [Read more 🡒]
Austin Got A Texas Showdown Fans Wont Stop Talking About
Austin got a rare NBA spotlight at the Moody Center, and the exhibition-like feel of the setting did nothing to blunt the stakes when the Rockets and Spurs turned it into a tight finish. Houston came away with a 114-110 win, a result that felt notable not just because it was played in Austin, but because both teams are viewed as legitimate Western Conference contenders and played like it down the stretch.
Kevin Durant led Houston with a strong performance, while the late sequence belonged to Amen Thompson after he blocked Victor Wembanyamas last-second shot attempt to seal it. For Texas fans, it was the kind of matchup that fed the old in-state rivalry energy in a new arena, and the kind of ending that will keep people talking long after the final horn. [Read more 🡒]