The No. 7 Texas Longhorns build one of the best resumes in college football with Saturday’s 34-20 victory over the No. 18 Missouri Tigers that saw head coach Steve Sarkisian’s team score 21 unanswered points to come away with the victory.
Here are some points to remember.
Texas can’t afford to fight
After the defense forced a huge stop to give Texas the ball with 3:42 left, Texas had a chance to make it a low-pressure finish, but they seem allergic to those. Raleek Brown picked up six yards on first down, but a holding call was denied and resulted in a tackle for loss; then a false start by Michael Masunas turned a 3rd-and-5 with a chance to kill even more clock into a 3rd-and-10. Missouri tried to give the ball back on a muffed punt, but Texas couldn’t fall on it, setting up a dramatic finish.
In a game where the officials played a significant role in the narrative, Texas did itself no favors, finishing with six penalties for 65 yards, including one negating a 34-yard pickup by the offense. All three of the Longhorns’ defensive penalties were automatic first downs. This could have been the story of the game if the Longhorns hadn’t knocked off the Tigers.
Arch Manning can play winning football
For most of this year, the defense has been one of the best units in the country, and the offense — especially Arch Manning — has betrayed them in key spots. That wasn’t the case against Missouri, and the Longhorns took advantage.
Manning played within himself and kept the offense on track for most of the game in one of his best performances. When he connected with Raleek Brown for the 23-yard touchdown, it seemed like a cathartic moment for Texas. Manning finished with 297 yards and three touchdowns, completing 74 percent of his passes and looking like the elite quarterback Texas fans expected.
Manning seemed more decisive, more willing to take easy distances when he needed to, and ultimately put Texas in a position to win by not committing any turnovers. He did a good job getting the ball to his playmakers, with six players getting multiple receptions and Jermaine Bishop and Raleek Brown both catching touchdowns. If Texas can get this level of play from Arch Manning for the rest of the year, they will have much better fortune.
Longhorns can finish games
Part of Texas’ biggest problem in its two losses this year was its inability to close out games, but that wasn’t the case against Missouri. Texas tied the game with five minutes remaining and held Missouri to three points, then forced the interception that took the ball deep into Missouri territory, capped by Brown’s touchdown run. Then they shut down Missouri in their last-ditch effort to put Texas in an unfamiliar position this season – the victory lineup.
The team didn’t display the killer instinct Sargsyan was looking for, but they stepped up to the end and finished the game on a high note. It’s the kind of game Texas fans and coaches have been hoping to see all year: stifling defense and an offense explosive enough to come away with comfortable wins in big games.
Gn sports
