There are two faces to Texas, and I’m still not sure which one we saw Saturday night against No. 7 Ole Miss as the Longhorns pulled off a thrilling 34-27 victory that went down to the final play.
A week of preparation around a different version of Arch Manning and the pressure Steve Sarkisian faced regarding this offense through four quarters was approaching a combustible stage against Pete Golding’s Rebels on Saturday night.
This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you register or place a bet, FOX News may be compensated. This content was created by a team that works independently of FOX editorial staff.
Just when you thought this Texas team had shown us every possible way to blow a lead, they found a new one Saturday night in Austin.
HAVE WE CREATED A MONSTER? ARCH MANNING’S ‘AW SHUCKS’ PERSONA LEFT BEFORE THE MUST-HAVE OLE MISS GAME
Taking a 24-3 lead, thanks to Arch Manning looking like NFL quarterback scouts were drooling during the preseason, this game looked like a blowout waiting to happen.
For the folks at home, we had seen this movie several times during the 2026 season. Texas takes a lead, then throws it away in the second half. We saw it against Oklahoma and Florida over the last three weeks.
Arch Manning #16 of the Texas Longhorns hands off to Raleek Brown #0 in the second quarter against the Ole Miss Rebels at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on October 24, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (Getty Images)
A wild second half leads to an exciting finish in the SEC, with plenty of lingering questions
If worried Longhorn fans thought they were going to take a break in the second half, they were sorely mistaken. Texas only managed 19 yards in the third quarter while Ole Miss scored 14 points.
It was the Rebels scoring 21 unanswered points that put Texas fans through another anxiety-filled evening, waiting for the other shoe to drop that they had seen too many times this season. When Arch Manning went cold, Trinidad Chambliss warmed up.
Right now, the Longhorns should come with a warning that any lead could turn into a tie at any time. And you can’t blame the Will Muschamp-coached defense, considering how much time they spend on the field each week.
A Tale of Two Halves reared its ugly head once again when the Ole Miss defense forced a fumble after sacking Arch Manning, returning him for the touchdown that sparked the second-half comeback.
URBAN MEYER SAYS ARCH MANNING HAS “RETURNED” AS NOISE INCREASES AROUND STARTUP JOB SECURITY
Blake Purchase of the Ole Miss Rebels sacks Arch Manning of the Texas Longhorns, forcing a fumble in the third quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on October 24, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (Getty Images)
What we saw once again was the Texans offense tightening like a vice, with Manning throwing his second interception with 13:24 left in the fourth quarter. Just like we saw against Oklahoma, Arch started throwing ducks, and this time it was Ole Miss ready to pounce on mistakes.
But then we saw the Longhorns flip a switch in the fourth quarter, as if everything that happened before Arch Manning got into the end zone for a Texas touchdown was just a case of yips.
SEC’S CRAZY, HISTORICAL WEEKEND OF WEEK 7 IS THE LATEST EXAMPLE OF THE NEW ERA OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL
“We say every week, ‘whatever it takes,’ and I think we did that in the fourth quarter,” Manning said after the game.
Just when you thought it was over, Ole Miss put together a frantic finish that saw them connect on a field goal and then recover an onside kick that gave the Rebels one last chance to tie this game.
A Trinidad Chambliss heave to the end zone ended in the hands of a Texas defender, and the frenzy ended with the Longhorns fending off this fierce Ole Miss team who gave us a thrilling second half.
“I was pacing back and forth saying some prayers,” Arch Manning said of Ole Miss’ final drive. “Our defense took over, that’s what it’s all about.”
Trinidad Chambliss #6 of the Ole Miss Rebels looks to pass under pressure from the Texas Longhorns in the first quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on October 24, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (Getty Images)
Where do Ole Miss and Texas go from here? Who knows right now in the SEC
The problem with this game is that we saw two perceived SEC heavyweights trade haymakers for two halves.
If you haven’t noticed, we all have a hard time deciding who is good enough to be called “elite” in college football.
Following Saturday’s showdown in Austin, these questions will linger over the next five to six weeks. In the third quarter we saw the Rebels play fiercely on defense while Trinidad Chambliss opened up the offense by throwing several touchdowns like we saw against Missouri last week.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
By the time Texas fans had finished celebrating the drone show at DKR Stadium to start the fourth quarter, it was like another switch had flipped in the head of this Texas offense. The problem that will continue to worsen for Arch Manning and Steve Sarkisian over the remainder of this season centers on this offense struggling to play consistent football.
Now, Texas will face Missouri and LSU over the next three weeks, and the challenges will only get tougher.
Which Longhorns football team will show up? I don’t think any of us know the answer to that question.
Gn sports
