Texas got the kind of response it needed Saturday, knocking off then-No. 7 Ole Miss 34-27 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin after dropping two straight. The Longhorns stormed to a 24-3 halftime lead, watched the Rebels claw all the way back to tie it in the fourth quarter, then answered when Arch Manning’s second rushing touchdown put Texas back on top for good.
A handful of freshmen were part of that win, and several of them found their way onto the field in meaningful spots. Wide receiver Jermaine Bishop Jr. continued to carve out a role, running back Derrek Cooper got involved on offense, and five other first-year players logged special-teams work.
Cooper’s day was brief but notable. He finished with one catch for seven yards, which was his only offensive stat in three snaps against Ole Miss.
He didn’t get a rushing attempt, so Texas never really had a chance to use him the way it has in other games. Even so, the reception showed another path for the Longhorns to tap into his versatility.
There’s still reason to keep watching Cooper as the 2026 season goes on, but the freshman is dealing with more than just a limited workload. He wasn’t listed on last week’s injury report, yet Steve Sarkisian said after the game that Cooper has been banged up and was also sick.
Bishop had a busier afternoon, especially once junior wideout Cam Coleman missed almost the entire second half. That opened the door for Bishop to set a career high with 26 snaps.
The production wasn’t huge - four targets, three catches, 14 yards - but it was enough to mark his second-lowest receiving total of the season. He still managed to pick up a first down and force a missed tackle.
He also got caught up in one of the uglier moments for Texas on offense, when a poorly executed mesh concept failed on 3rd and 3.
Even with the modest receiving numbers, Bishop kept finding the field in other ways. He added 17 more special-teams snaps, working on kick return, kick coverage, and punt return.
Freshman linebacker Kosi Okpala made his biggest imprint on special teams, though not entirely in the way Texas wanted. In the fourth quarter, he stopped Ole Miss returner Jalyn Crawford after a 23-yard return, but the sequence came with a personal foul that pushed the Rebels all the way to their 47-yard line. It was a mixed result: the tackle was there, but so was the flag.
That was Okpala’s second penalty of the game after an unsportsmanlike conduct call on a touchback while he was on the kickoff return unit. Still, his special-teams role keeps expanding. He played 21 snaps against Ole Miss and has now reached 89 special-teams snaps this season, which ranks eighth on the team.
Other freshmen also chipped in on the third phase. Kohen Brown logged 21 special-teams snaps across four units. Chris Stewart got seven snaps on kick coverage, while Smoke Matthews and Toray Davis each added five snaps on kick coverage.
Among freshmen offensive contributors, Bishop led the way with his three catches for 14 yards. Cooper followed with his seven-yard grab. Okpala’s tackle stood out on special teams, even if the penalty tacked on afterward complicated the sequence.
For Texas, the main takeaway was simple: the skid is over, and the Longhorns got enough freshman help along the way to keep building.
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 🡒]