Texas defeated No. 7 Ole Miss 34-27 in Austin, securing a victory that hinged on the final play after the Longhorns allowed a significant second-half comeback. The win came despite Texas managing only 19 yards of offense in the third quarter, a period during which Ole Miss scored 14 points to erase most of an early deficit.
The game began with Texas establishing a 24-3 lead, driven by quarterback Arch Manning, who appeared to perform at a high level early on. However, the momentum shifted when the Ole Miss defense forced a fumble by sacking Manning, returning it for a touchdown that sparked the Rebels' rally. By the fourth quarter, Texas had thrown two interceptions, with the second occurring with 13:24 remaining in the game. This pattern of inconsistency has been a recurring theme for the Longhorns this season, having also occurred against Oklahoma and Florida in previous weeks.
Ole Miss coach Pete Golding's team capitalized on these errors, with quarterback Trinidad Chambliss throwing multiple touchdown passes to keep the Rebels within striking distance. The defense under Will Muschamp also played a key role in the finish, as Texas recovered an onside kick after Ole Miss connected on a field goal. The final moment came when Chambliss threw a pass to the end zone that was intercepted by a Texas defender, sealing the upset.
Arch Manning acknowledged the team's resilience in the final quarter, stating, "We say every week, 'whatever it takes,' and I think we did that in the fourth quarter." He also noted the importance of his defense's performance on the final drive, saying, "I was pacing, saying a few prayers... Our defense came up clutch, that's what it is all about."
Despite the win, questions remain about the consistency of Texas's offense under head coach Steve Sarkisian. The team has struggled to maintain leads for all four quarters, a pattern that has created anxiety among fans and observers. Looking ahead, Texas is scheduled to face Missouri and LSU over the next three weeks, presenting further challenges for an offense that has shown volatility in recent games. The outcome against Ole Miss highlights the ongoing debate regarding which college football teams can truly be considered elite in the current SEC landscape.