Texas has steadied itself just enough to keep the season from slipping away, and now the Longhorns walk into a tricky road test that could tell the story of what comes next. No. 11 Texas heads to Columbia for its first trip there since 2015, opening a two-game road stretch against Missouri as a 3.5-point favorite, according to FanDuel.
The matchup comes with an 11 a.m. kickoff on ESPN.
Missouri has been uneven in SEC play, but the Tigers are coming off a convincing win over Arkansas that pushed them to 3-2 in conference action. That game also marked the return of Ahmad Hardy, who missed the first seven games while rehabbing from being hit by a stray bullet during the offseason.
In his absence, Jamal Roberts carried the load, piling up 1,035 yards and nine touchdowns through eight games while averaging 125 yards per game to open the year. Getting Hardy back, after he rushed for more than 1,600 yards a year ago, gives Missouri a backfield that already looked dangerous and now looks even deeper.
The Tigers have also settled on Austin Simmons at quarterback. Missouri handed him the job to start the season after he transferred in from Ole Miss, and he has generally looked the part.
Simmons entered the year with a different path behind him, having been expected to start for the Rebels before an injury opened the door for Trinidad Chambliss. Against Arkansas, he didn’t need much volume, throwing for just 179 yards in the win.
Texas, meanwhile, appears to have found a few answers on offense. The Longhorns used more lateral passing and screens to help open things up and get Arch Manning into a better rhythm. But the progress came with some rough edges, too, as Manning committed multiple turnovers and his hesitation led to sacks and poorly placed throws.
If Texas is going to keep its playoff hopes alive, the Longhorns have to clean up the second-half offensive lulls that have shown up repeatedly over the last four games.
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 🡒]
Arch Manning Shined But Texas Still Has One Clear Concern
Arch Manning gave Texas exactly the kind of clean, efficient performance the Longhorns have been waiting to see, completing 16 of 20 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-3 win over Mississippi State. The defense did plenty of heavy lifting too, piling up seven sacks and adding a fumble return touchdown to keep the game from ever feeling in doubt.
Even with all that going right, the run game remains the piece Texas still has to sort out. The Longhorns managed only 60 yards on 32 carries, a modest output that stood out in a game otherwise controlled on both sides of the ball. If Texas is going to keep building on this kind of complete performance, finding more consistency on the ground is the obvious next step. [Read more 🡒]