Texas beat Ole Miss 34-27 in Austin on Saturday night, surviving a remarkable second-half collapse as Arch Manning produced a touchdown pass and two rushing scores to help the Longhorns secure a much-needed victory.
Texas led 24-3 at half-time before the Rebels stormed back to level the game at 24-24 early in the fourth quarter. Manning then restored the home side’s advantage with a one-yard touchdown run after Raleek Brown’s 47-yard burst had opened up the Ole Miss defence.
The Longhorns, who improved to 5-2, had been under pressure after consecutive defeats by unranked Oklahoma and Florida. The win halted that slide, although their performance exposed familiar problems with penalties and special teams.
Brown finished with 157 rushing yards, while Manning passed for 212 yards and added a touchdown through the air. Texas ran for 207 yards overall, but was penalised 14 times for 134 yards.
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss threw two touchdown passes to Horatio Fields as the Rebels erased the 21-point deficit. Fields’ six-yard reception narrowed the gap, before his contested 27-yard catch in the end zone brought Ole Miss level.
Texas had appeared in control until Manning was hit from behind by Blake Purchase on the opening possession of the second half. Kam Franklin recovered the loose ball in the end zone after initially losing control of it, giving the Rebels their first touchdown of the night.
Manning was later forced to leave the field briefly for a medical check after taking a heavy sack from Franklin. He returned on the following series, but Texas struggled to regain the authority it had shown before the interval.
The Longhorns nearly surrendered the game in the closing minutes. Emmett Mosley IV failed to secure an onside kick, allowing Ole Miss to recover and preserve its hopes of completing the comeback.
Those hopes ended on the final play when Chambliss’ pass into the end zone was intercepted by Jelani McDonald. Texas had enough left to hold on, despite a difficult night for receiver Cam Coleman, who dropped a potential 59-yard touchdown in the first quarter before later leaving after landing heavily on his left shoulder.
Ole Miss slipped to 5-2, while Texas moved to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the Southeastern Conference. The Rebels host Auburn on Saturday, October 31, while Texas completes a three-game home stretch against Mississippi State on the same day.
