Arch Manning Powers Texas Past No. 7 Ole Miss In 34-27 Upset

Arch Manning accounted for three total touchdowns as Texas snapped a two-game skid with a thrilling 34-27 victory over No. 7 Ole Miss.

ByKerooja

Arch Manning delivered the defining performance of his young collegiate career on Saturday night, October 24, 2026, leading No. 19 Texas to a 34-27 upset victory over No. 7 Ole Miss at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Before an electric home crowd of 104,306 fans in Austin, the sophomore quarterback accounted for three total touchdowns to snap a frustrating two-game losing skid for the Longhorns. Manning completed 18 of 30 passes for 212 yards and a touchdown while adding two crucial rushing scores on designed keeper plays. The victory handed the Rebels their second loss of the season while re-establishing Texas as a major force in the Southeastern Conference race.

Manning Sets Early Rhythm With Explosive Perimeter Play

Texas set an aggressive offensive tone from the opening quarter, attacking the perimeter with tempo and disciplined execution. Manning connected with wide receiver Ryan Wingo on an explosive 50-yard strike that set up his first rushing touchdown on a goal-line sneak. Wingo served as Manning’s top target all evening, hauling in seven receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown against Ole Miss’s aggressive secondary. The Longhorns capitalized on that aerial rhythm to build a commanding 21-point cushion midway through the second quarter.

Dominant Ground Attack Paves The Way For Possession Control

Complementing Manning’s passing was a dominant ground attack orchestrated by dynamic running back Raleek Brown. Brown gashed the Rebels’ defensive front for 157 rushing yards on 23 carries, repeatedly moving the chains on third-and-short situations. Freshman running back Michael Terry III provided additional interior punch, contributing 41 yards and a physical touchdown run. In total, Texas accumulated 207 rushing yards, controlling the line of scrimmage and maintaining time of possession for nearly 35 minutes.

Ole Miss Mounts Furious Second-Half Aerial Rally

Despite falling into a steep hole, Ole Miss mounted a fierce second-half rally behind transfer quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. Chambliss engineered consecutive scoring drives, throwing for 250 yards and finding wide receiver Horatio Fields for two touchdown receptions. Defensive back Jalyn Crawford gave the Rebels late momentum by intercepting Manning twice during erratic fourth-quarter passing sequences. Capitalizing on sudden short-field opportunities, Ole Miss trimmed the deficit to seven points with just under four minutes remaining in regulation.

Sarkisian Praises Manning’s Composure Under Pressure

Facing immense fourth-quarter pressure, Manning maintained his composure and executed key clock-killing plays to protect the lead. Head coach Steve Sarkisian praised the edgy competitiveness displayed by his young quarterback throughout the high-stakes final quarter. Sarkisian highlighted how Manning’s vocal leadership in the huddle prevented the offense from spiraling when the Rebels made their surge. The sophomore’s willingness to stand tall in the pocket and absorb contact reflected significant developmental growth following recent road defeats.

Defensive Front Steps Up In High-Leverage Moments

The Longhorns’ defense matched their quarterback’s grit by stepping up with critical stops in the closing minutes. Defensive backs Jelani McDonald and Justin Cryer each recorded crucial interceptions, halting deep Ole Miss drives into the red zone. Texas limited the Rebels to just 113 rushing yards on 38 attempts, forcing Chambliss to carry the entire offensive burden in predictable passing downs. Despite committing 14 penalties, the defensive front generated pressure when it mattered most to seal the seven-point triumph.

SEC Standings Shift As Longhorns Re-Enter Playoff Picture

The victory completely resets the trajectory of Texas’s 2026 campaign after consecutive conference losses to Oklahoma and Florida. Improving to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in league play keeps the Longhorns firmly in contention for an SEC championship berth and a College Football Playoff seed. For Ole Miss, falling to 5-2 marks their second defeat of autumn and severely narrows their margin for error moving forward. Head coach Lane Kiffin’s squad must quickly regroup before facing another difficult conference test next week.

Saturday night in Austin served as a signature moment for Arch Manning and the Texas football program. By overcoming turnovers and weathering a furious rally from a top-ten opponent, Manning showed the competitive resilience expected of a championship-caliber starter. As the Longhorns prepare for the closing stretch of the regular season, this victory provides the exact momentum needed to navigate November football. College football fans will watch closely to see if Texas can parlay this marquee upset into a sustained postseason charge.

Sources

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