Texas rallied past No. 19 Missouri on Saturday, clawing their way to a 34-20 comeback victory, and Arch Manning was the guy making sure it happened. This wasn’t some easy win, either. The Longhorns were on the road in Columbia, looking vulnerable as heck, and then Manning flipped the switch, leading his squad to score three unanswered touchdowns in the second half.
Manning Dropped an Absolute Dime Show
Missouri was feeling themselves early, even snagging a 20-13 lead in the third quarter after Naeshaun Montgomery busted loose for a 75-yard touchdown. You could feel the momentum swinging, but Texas didn’t crumble. Instead, Manning led a drive that ended with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Bishop Jr., tying the game at 20. But he wasn’t done! Manning then threw the go-ahead touchdown, a 23-yard strike to Raleek Brown, with just over five minutes left on the clock. Raleek Brown then added a rushing touchdown, putting a bow on the whole thing as Texas scored the final three times. Manning finished the day with 297 passing yards and those three crucial touchdowns. That’s big-time play when the lights are brightest.
A Win That Changes Everything (Almost)
Seriously, this win was exactly what Texas needed. They’d had two narrow losses to unranked opponents that had everyone questioning their season, but now? They’re 7-2, and this comeback showed they can take a punch and not let the game spiral out of control. The offense delivered when it was crunch time, and the defense? They shut Missouri down completely in the fourth quarter. Manning’s performance was the headline, no doubt, but it took a full-team effort. It doesn’t magically erase those earlier losses, and it doesn’t guarantee a playoff spot, but it definitely keeps them in the College Football Playoff conversation. It gives them a real result to point to when the season gets evaluated, you know? They just bagged another ranked road win.
Now, the real test is consistency. Texas has shown they can beat ranked opponents, and they’ve shown they can dig deep on the road. But if they want to turn this into a genuine late-season push, they’re gonna have to bring that intense, fourth-quarter version of themselves to every game. For now though, Manning and the Longhorns have definitely gotten their season’s pulse back. What a game.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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