The Texas Longhorns barely escaped Austin with a 34-27 win over the Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday, holding off a wild, furious second-half comeback attempt that saw No. 7 Ole Miss go on a 21-0 run against No. 19 Texas. This was after Arch Manning and the Longhorns, who entered on a two-game losing streak, were 3.5-point favorites over the Rebels, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. It was an instant classic, and man, did it have everything.
Arch Manning’s Jekyll and Hyde First Half
Texas looked like they were going to run away with it right from the jump, opening up with a dominant 24-3 lead at halftime. Arch Manning was dealing in that first half, completing 13-of-19 passes for 171 yards, a touchdown, and one interception. He even ran one in himself to give Texas a 10-3 lead in the first quarter, before connecting with Ryan Wingo for a monster 50-yard touchdown pass and Michael Terry III adding another rushing score before the break. On the other side, Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss was struggling big time. The Longhorns’ defense held him to just 63 yards on 6-of-18 passing, with no touchdowns and a pair of picks. This was actually Chambliss’s first multi-interception game as a Rebel. You gotta feel for the guy, but Texas was just locked in.
The Ole Miss Surge That Almost Stunned Texas
Then, the second half kicked off, and everything flipped on its head. Manning fumbled coming out of halftime, and Ole Miss defensive end Kam Franklin scooped it up and returned it for a touchdown. Just like that, the Rebels had life. Chambliss, who looked completely out of sync in the first, found Horatio Fields for a score, cutting that huge lead to a single possession, 24-17. On Ole Miss’ first drive of the fourth quarter, Chambliss hit Fields again for a 27-yard touchdown pass, tying the game at 24-24 and completing that insane 21-0 run. Manning tossed his second interception of the game, too, but Ole Miss just couldn’t capitalize on that turnover. What a missed opportunity! Luckily for Texas, Manning bounced back with his second rushing touchdown of the game, putting the Longhorns back in front. Ole Miss still tried to fight, blocking a 58-yard field goal attempt, but a Texas field goal extended their lead to 10 points late. Chambliss led one last charge, connecting for a field goal with 1:22 remaining, and then recovered an onside kick! But despite his impressive throws downfield, time just ran out. Texas held on, escaping after one of the most frantic second halves you’ll see all season.
Chambliss’ Wild Stats and Surprising Draft Outlook
Let’s talk about those final stats, because wow, they tell a story. Trinidad Chambliss finished 25-of-52 for 250 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. Talk about a roller coaster! Arch Manning, meanwhile, ended up 18-of-30 for 212 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. On the ground, Texas’ Raleek Brown was a beast, rushing for 157 yards on 23 carries, while Michael Terry III added 41 yards and a score. For Ole Miss, Makhi Frazier had 47 rushing yards. In the air, Ryan Wingo pulled in 7 catches for 111 yards and a TD for Texas, and Horatio Fields grabbed 3 receptions for 50 yards and both of Ole Miss’ receiving touchdowns. Despite the three picks, Chambliss’ draft stock is still incredibly high. ESPN’s Jordan Reid noted back on October 9 that Chambliss has actually risen to a potential top-three quarterback pick in the first round, behind only Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker and Miam. That’s wild to think about after a game like this!
What a game. Texas moves to 5-2 overall, 2-2 in conference, while Ole Miss also sits at 5-2 overall, but a slightly better 3-2 in the SEC. For both teams, keeping their conference records strong is crucial if they want to stay in the hunt for anything meaningful this season. Ole Miss has to clean up those turnovers, especially from their potential first-round QB. And for Texas, well, they just need to find a way to play a full 60 minutes like they did in the first half!
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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