Number one Texas rolled into the Cotton Bowl on Saturday expecting to run over Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry, but somebody forgot to tell the Sooners that rankings mean squat in a rivalry game. Oklahoma snatched a 27-24 upset win with a walk-off field goal, and Arch Manning’s two interceptions, including one in crunch time, are now a massive red flag for his once-surefire #1 overall draft hopes.
Manning’s Nightmare Day: The Good, The Bad, and The Interceptions
Man, what a wild ride that game was for Manning. He finished with 19 completions on 31 attempts for 260 yards, an 8.4 average, and three touchdowns. But two interceptions, including one that led directly to Oklahoma taking the lead and another that gifted them the game-winning field goal position, are what everyone’s talking about. Texas actually got on the board first, with Manning finding Cam Coleman for a sweet 41-yard touchdown. Coleman was a beast, hauling in 5 catches for 110 yards and that score. Ryan Wingo also grabbed a 57-yard TD from Manning. They even took a 10-point lead into halftime, which should have made them comfortable.
But the second half was a different story. After Oklahoma’s defense came up huge, Peyton Bowen picked off Manning and took it to the house, making it 24-17. To his credit, Manning responded immediately, leading a touchdown drive that ended with a pass to Jermain Bishop Jr. to tie things up again. Texas even had a shot to take the lead with under three minutes left, but a missed field goal gave the ball back to Oklahoma. Then came the real dagger: Manning, under pressure near midfield, tried to force one, and Courtland Guillory snatched it. That set up Tate Sandell’s walk-off field goal to seal the upset. Just brutal.
Oklahoma’s Grind-It-Out Upset Victory
You gotta hand it to Oklahoma. Their offense definitely struggled at times, with John Mateer throwing for just 155 yards and no touchdowns on 18 of 26 passing. They weren’t moving the ball well at all, with Lloyd Avant’s 72 rushing yards and a TD being a bright spot. But they found other ways to score, which is the mark of a gritty team. A blocked punt tied it up in the second quarter, and then Bowen’s pick-six of Manning was absolutely massive. They didn’t capitalize on every opportunity, even going three-and-out after Texas’s missed field goal, but that final Manning turnover was all they needed to get into field goal range and let Sandell be the hero. They were bailed out by their defense and special teams all day, but hey, a win’s a win, especially in a rivalry game against the top team in the country.
This upset loss is another tough one for Arch Manning, adding to what’s been a rough season so far. He came into the year as the clear frontrunner for the first overall pick, but let’s be real, he hasn’t lived up to that hype. He had flashes of brilliance, sure, but those two interceptions, especially the one in the clutch, are gonna leave a nasty taste in scouts’ mouths. The only silver lining for Manning is that no scout is bumping John Mateer above him after that game. Mateer just didn’t get it done offensively. Still, for Arch, the heat just got turned up another notch. He needs to bounce back, big time, if he wants to regain that top draft spot.
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.
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