Arch Manning delivered two clutch second-half touchdown passes, leading the Texas Longhorns to a hard-fought 34-20 road win over No. 18 Missouri, a victory that massively cranks up their College Football Playoff chances. For a guy who’s been on a true rollercoaster this season, this was the kind of performance that makes you sit up and take notice.
The Arch Manning Enigma Just Got Even More Complicated
Talk about a mixed bag season. Manning has dealt with inconsistency all year, but when it mattered most against Mizzou, he straight up rebounded. The dude finished with 297 passing yards, his highest total since the season opener against Texas State, completing 28 of 38 attempts. He threw three touchdowns and, critically, zero interceptions. That’s his second game in a row with three scores and no picks, plus he’s hit at least 70 percent completion in three of his last four outings.
He had to work for it, too. Missouri kept taking the lead, and Manning engineered four different scoring drives just to tie the game. But the real fireworks? That fifth scoring drive late in the fourth quarter, which gave Texas their first lead. Manning dropped an absolute dime down the sideline to Raleek Brown for a 23-yard touchdown pass, putting Texas up 27-20 with just 5:03 left on the clock. Earlier, he connected with Jermaine Bishop Jr. on a 25-yard touchdown pass on third-and-10 in the third quarter to even things at 20-20. Sure, he did miss a wide-open Emmett Mosley V on a third-and-9 for what looked like an easy first down, though Tyler Horka from Inside Texas noted Mosley might have been the one who slowed down. Regardless, Manning remains a total enigma for fans and draft analysts, and after this one, that conversation is only getting wilder for the 2027 quarterback class.
The Defense Stepped Up Big, And The CFP Dream Is Real
Manning did his part, putting Texas on top. But the defense, man, they absolutely closed it out. After that go-ahead touchdown, Mizzou went three-and-out. Texas’s offense couldn’t chew much clock, also going three-and-out, but the defense was there again. Two plays later, Warren Roberson delivered a game-changing hit on Cayden Lee, forcing a fumble that Graceon Littleton snagged right out of the air. Raleek Brown punched it in on third down after that turnover, officially sealing the 34-20 win.
This victory is massive for the Longhorns, who were already ranked No. 7 in the initial top 25. It’s their fourth win against a currently ranked top-20 team, showing they can hang with the best. But the schedule isn’t letting up, not for a second. Texas has another monster road game next week, heading to Baton Rouge to face off against LSU. That’s their final regular-season game against a currently-ranked opponent, and you know the stakes could not be higher for their College Football Playoff push.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
Leave a Reply