The #19 Texas Longhorns clawed their way to a crucial 34-27 victory over #7 Ole Miss on Saturday night, battling back from a two-game losing streak and keeping their College Football Playoff hopes alive. This wasn’t just any win, either. It was the Longhorns’ second triumph over a top-10 opponent this season, and they had to fight tooth and nail at Royal-Memorial Stadium to avoid a total second-half collapse against a resilient Rebels squad.
The Longhorns’ High-Wire Act Against a Heisman Contender
This game was an absolute nail-biter, and Texas needed every single yard and every single defensive stop. Running back Raleek Brown was an absolute beast on the ground, racking up 157 rushing yards to spearhead the offense. Not to be outdone, receiver Ryan Wingo chipped in with 111 receiving yards, including a massive 50-yard toss haul. But honestly, the real unsung heroes were the Texas defense. They picked off Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, a Heisman Trophy contender, three separate times. That final interception came on the very last snap of the game, sealing the deal and preventing a devastating upset. Talk about living on the edge!
First Half Chaos and Arch Manning’s Gritty Plays
After Ole Miss went three-and-out to kick things off, the teams traded field goals, and then things got real weird, real fast. We saw a four-play sequence in the first quarter that included Texas offensive lineman Trevor Goosby going down with an apparent leg injury and getting carted off the field, a tough sight for any fan. Then Arch Manning got picked off by Ole Miss cornerback Jalyn Crawford. Immediately, UT linebacker Justin Cryer answered right back, intercepting Chambliss. And just to keep us on our toes, Texas receiver Cam Coleman dropped what should have been a 59-yard touchdown.
Through all that chaos, Texas still managed to exit the opening frame with a 10-3 lead, thanks in part to Manning’s first rushing score of the season, a gutsy two-yard touchdown run. The Longhorns kept the pedal down early in the second quarter, too. Manning showed off his wheels with a crucial 19-yard rush on a 3rd-and-17, setting up that Ryan Wingo 50-yard bomb. By halftime, sophomore running back Michael Terry III had scored his first career touchdown run, and linebacker Rasheem Biles snatched a 4th-and-goal pass near the goal line, pushing Texas to a commanding 24-3 lead. That was their largest halftime lead over a ranked opponent since their 2024 trip to Michigan. Fans had to be feeling good, right?
Holding On For Dear Life As Ole Miss Roared Back
Well, if you’ve watched Texas lately, you know a big halftime lead doesn’t always mean smooth sailing. The Longhorns had already blown 17-7 and 17-3 advantages in their previous losses to Oklahoma and Florida. So, a sold-out crowd in Austin probably wasn’t exactly relaxing despite the 21-point cushion. And those fears were valid. Ole Miss wasted no time making the fans sweat, taking full advantage of Goosby’s absence. Blake Purchase absolutely blew past Andre Cojoe on the left side of UT’s offensive line, sacking Manning and injecting some serious anxiety into the stadium. Texas had to dig deep, but they found a way to avoid that complete collapse in the second half, securing the win with that final, game-saving interception.
This was a massive win for the Longhorns, snapping that tough two-game skid and proving they can still hang with the best in the nation. With their College Football Playoff hopes still alive, every snap matters for this squad moving forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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