For most of the third quarter, it felt like the third chapter of the same story: A Texas Longhorns team jumped out to an early lead but couldn’t put the opponent away, letting them come roaring back. But where the Longhorns fell back and couldn’t get back into the game in the previous two losses, they put together two key drives in the second half to take the lead and do just enough to end the losing streak with a 34-27 victory over Ole Miss on Saturday in Austin.
Arch Manning is who he is
We’re still waiting for the Arch Manning to return in the second half of 2025, and for a few fleeting moments we saw what could be, but it was too good to last. After getting into rhythm to start the game, a costly interception ended the Longhorns’ momentum prematurely. He got back into rhythm and even threw an explosive touchdown pass in the first half, but when the game turned, Manning started to press and the wheels started to fall off.
A strip-sack on the first drive of the second half gave the Rebels the life they needed to get back into the game. Manning closed the second half without completing consecutive passes, unless you count the 18-yard completion to Masunas followed by an arm punt to give Ole Miss the ball with the game somehow tied 24-24 in the fourth quarter.
Texas must unlock the ground game
In the second half, when Texas needed to score points, the duo of Raleek Brown and Michael Terry delivered. Excellent vision, explosive running and the best blocking in the competition allowed Texas to rush 80 yards in just six plays to regain the lead. Texas ran the ball on every play of the drive, sparked by a 47-yard run by Brown on 2nd-and-9 that was the first of three explosive runs that gave Texas 1st-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Two plays later, Manning raced into the end zone untouched to break the tie.
During the seven-game stretch that put the Longhorns up 10 points on a field goal, Manning threw a screen pass on the first play but never put it in the air again.
Texas struggled to move the ball consistently this year, but they did it when it counted against the Rebels, and it made the difference. The Longhorns need to find some sort of consistent ground game in the coming weeks, as they are still alive in both the College Football Playoff and a spot in the SEC Championship Game.
There needs to be a change on special teams
We may not have learned it today, but it definitely reinforced the need for rapid change and improvement during phase three. The play really turned on an impromptu fake punt by Ole Miss, where the Australian specialist saw a look he liked and took off running. An unnecessary 10-yard roughness penalty turned what would have been a 3rd and 3 into a Rebels first down. This campaign ended with an interception, but it was the first time the rebels showed signs of life.
Ole Miss scored 21 unanswered points, and the wheels seemed to fall off for Texas until a big second-half drive. Even with the blocked field goal that allowed Texas to eat up more time and extend the lead, it can’t make up for Texas’ repeated sins on special teams. For the second time this season, Texas had to survive a last-second drive when it just needed to recover an onside kick. Instead, three Longhorns had a chance to recover the kick, but somehow one Rebels player ended up with it.
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