Texas survived another late-game scare Saturday night, holding off No. 7 Ole Miss 34-27 after giving up a 21-point lead. Arch Manning delivered a crucial fourth-quarter rushing touchdown as the No. 19 Longhorns avoided another painful collapse at home.
Manning threw a touchdown pass and recorded his first two rushing touchdowns of the season, including the go-ahead score that helped Texas regain control. Running back Raleek Brown added 157 rushing yards, giving the Longhorns an important offensive boost in a game that nearly slipped away.
The victory improved Texas to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in SEC play. It also eased some of the pressure on head coach Steve Sarkisian and Manning after consecutive losses to unranked opponents had sent the Longhorns tumbling from the top of the national rankings.
Ole Miss fell to 5-2 overall and 3-2 in conference play despite a determined second-half comeback.
Texas Survives Ole Miss Comeback
Texas appeared firmly in control at halftime, taking a 24-3 lead into the locker room after its defense stopped Ole Miss near the goal line late in the second quarter.
The Rebels, however, capitalized on a costly Texas mistake to change the momentum immediately after halftime.
On the opening possession of the second half, Manning was hit from behind by Ole Miss defender Blake Purchase. The quarterback lost the ball, and Kam Franklin recovered the fumble in the end zone for a touchdown.
The play gave Ole Miss a lifeline and shifted the pressure back onto Texas.
Franklin continued to disrupt Manning on the Rebels' next defensive possession, delivering another sack that forced the Longhorns into a difficult third-and-16 situation. Manning went to the sideline for a medical evaluation and briefly missed a play, with backup KJ Lacey Jr. taking a handoff before Texas punted.
Manning returned on the following series, but Texas struggled to regain its earlier rhythm. Penalties repeatedly extended Ole Miss drives, and the Rebels took advantage.
Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss connected with Horatio Fields for two touchdown passes as Ole Miss steadily erased the deficit. Fields' contested 27-yard touchdown catch early in the fourth quarter tied the game at 24-24.
Texas had surrendered its entire 21-point halftime advantage, setting up a tense finish.
Manning's Fourth-Quarter Touchdown Makes the Difference
With the game tied, Texas needed a response from its offense. Brown supplied the spark with a 47-yard run that moved the Longhorns into scoring position.
Manning finished the drive with a 1-yard rushing touchdown, using a fake handoff to fool the defense before running around the end untouched. The score put Texas ahead 31-24.
The Longhorns added a field goal to extend their advantage, but the game was not over.
Ole Miss continued fighting, while Texas struggled to put the contest completely out of reach. The Rebels recovered an onside kick after receiver Emmett Mosley IV could not secure the ball, creating one final opportunity to tie the game.
Chambliss drove Ole Miss into position for a last-play attempt in the end zone. His final pass, however, was intercepted by Texas defensive back Jelani McDonald, ending the comeback and preserving the Longhorns' 34-27 victory.
The interception spared Texas another devastating finish after the team had previously needed a late defensive stop against Tennessee following an onside-kick recovery.
Sarkisian Acknowledges Texas' Costly Mistakes
Although the victory was important, Sarkisian made clear that Texas still has significant issues to address.
The Longhorns committed a season-high 14 penalties for 134 yards, including several personal fouls that helped Ole Miss sustain its second-half comeback.
Sarkisian pointed to the fumble and the resulting momentum shift as key moments in the game.
“I would be the first one to tell you we were not perfect tonight,” Sarkisian said. “We had an opportunity to be closer to perfect, but we get sack, fumble, they get a touchdown, they get momentum.”
Texas entered the game under pressure after losing 27-24 to Florida the previous week despite leading 17-3 in the first half. Before that, the Longhorns lost to rival Oklahoma by the same score after holding a 17-7 halftime advantage.
Another defeat after building a substantial lead would have intensified questions about the team's ability to close out games.
Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding recognized that Texas' recent results offered his team a reason to keep pushing.
“We said that at halftime, they’ve been up multiple possessions in this stadium and lost,” Golding said. “They’ve been down multiple possessions in this stadium and won (over then-No. 1 Ohio State). So we knew if we went out and played good football that we can get back in it.”
The Rebels nearly completed that comeback, but McDonald's interception ensured Texas would not suffer another late collapse.
Ole Miss Shows Fight Despite Offensive Challenges
Ole Miss deserves credit for refusing to fold after falling behind by 21 points.
The Rebels were close to facing an even larger deficit late in the first half when they faced fourth down. Instead of punting, Oscar Bird ran 17 yards on a fake, helping Ole Miss create a scoring opportunity before halftime.
Texas ultimately held firm on that drive, but the play demonstrated the Rebels' willingness to take risks.
After the break, Ole Miss benefited from Franklin's defensive touchdown and the passing connection between Chambliss and Fields. Their comeback put Texas under sustained pressure and gave the visitors a chance to steal the game in the final seconds.
Running back Kewan Lacy also faced physical challenges, leaving the game with what Golding described as the same shoulder injury that had sidelined him against Florida the previous month. Lacy finished with 16 carries for 36 yards after rushing for a season-high 122 yards in the Rebels' previous victory over Missouri.
Wide receiver Cam Coleman endured a difficult night for Texas. The Auburn transfer dropped a potential 59-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter and later injured his left shoulder while attempting a diving catch on the opening play of the second half. He needed assistance getting to the sideline.
What's Next for Texas and Ole Miss?
Texas will look to build on the win when it hosts Mississippi State next Saturday, completing a three-game homestand. The Longhorns have regained some momentum, but their penalty problems and late-game execution remain concerns heading into the next stage of SEC play.
Ole Miss will return home to face Auburn, aiming to recover from a defeat in which its second-half effort nearly produced a remarkable comeback.
For Texas, the result was about more than improving its record. Manning and the Longhorns avoided a third consecutive loss after leading by double digits, giving the team a much-needed win while highlighting the improvements still required.
The Longhorns escaped this time. Whether they can eliminate the mistakes that keep making close finishes necessary will be one of the biggest questions surrounding their season.
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