Arch Manning gives Texas the comeback it needed originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Texas looked vulnerable in Columbia. Then Arch Manning took over the game.
Advertisement
The Longhorns scored three unanswered touchdowns in the second half to rally past No. 19 Missouri, 34-20, on Saturday. Manning threw for 297 yards and three touchdowns, including the go-ahead connection with Raleek Brown with just over five minutes remaining.
The victory gives Texas a needed result in the College Football Playoff race after two narrow losses to unranked opponents had raised questions about its season. The Longhorns are now 7-2, and the win showed they can absorb a difficult stretch without letting a game spiral away.
Missouri had taken a 20-13 lead in the third quarter on a 75-yard touchdown by Naeshaun Montgomery. Texas answered with a drive that ended in a 25-yard touchdown pass from Manning to Jermaine Bishop Jr., tying the score at 20.
The Longhorns then took the lead on Manning’s 23-yard touchdown pass to Brown. Raleek Brown added a rushing touchdown to seal the result, giving Texas the final three scores of the afternoon.
Advertisement
The response mattered because Texas had to deal with a momentum swing on the road. Missouri’s long touchdown put the Longhorns in a difficult spot, but the offense stayed composed and the defense kept the Tigers off the board in the fourth quarter.
MORE: Shane Beamer buyout, contract details as South Carolina Gamecocks coach
Manning’s performance was the headline, but Texas needed a full-team answer. The offense delivered when the game became urgent, and the defense backed it up by limiting Missouri after the Tigers had moved ahead.
One win does not erase the earlier losses or guarantee a playoff place. It does, however, keep Texas in the conversation and gives the Longhorns a result they can point to when the season is evaluated.
Advertisement
The next step is consistency. Texas has shown it can beat ranked opponents and now has another ranked road win. If the Longhorns want to turn this into a genuine late-season push, they will need to bring the fourth-quarter version of themselves more often.
For now, Manning and Texas have given their season a pulse again. The Longhorns were facing a game that could have become another frustrating chapter. Instead, they made it a comeback that keeps their biggest goals within reach.
