Texas Defeats Mississippi State 31-3 Behind Manning's Three Touchdowns
A 61-yard fumble return and a strong defensive effort secured a decisive victory for the Longhorns in Austin.
By Aaron Foster ·
No. 11 Texas defeated Mississippi State 31-3 on Saturday night in Austin. The win improves the Longhorns record to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the Southeastern Conference. It marks their second consecutive victory after losing two midseason games in a row.
Arch Manning led the offense with three touchdown passes. The Longhorns also capitalized on a defensive mistake to extend their lead just before halftime. Maraad Watson returned a fumble 61 yards for a score as the clock expired for the first half.
Mississippi State entered the game with a 4-4 record. The Bulldogs are now in a four-game losing streak following a 4-0 start. Their starting quarterback, Kamario Taylor, is out for the season with a toe injury that required surgery. Taylor missed part or all of the last four games.
AJ Swann started in place of Taylor for the first time this season. He completed 12 of 15 passes before the injury. Swann was sacked by Texas linebacker Rasheem Biles, who forced the fumble. The ball bounced directly to Watson, who ran to the end zone. Swann left the game and spent the second half with his right arm in a sling.
Watson described the run as a challenge. He said, “By the 15 I was getting tired. I said to myself, ‘I have to make it.’” The 6-foot-3, 333-pound defensive tackle had a clear path to the goal line with teammates blocking for him.
Manning added to the lead in the second half. He connected with Raleek Brown from 14 yards out in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, he threw a touchdown pass to Emmett Mosely V. The Mississippi State defense had earlier sacked Manning six times and held Texas to under 300 total yards.
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian praised the team's resilience. He said, “I don’t know what our potential is. We're a growing team that continues to find ways to win.” The Longhorns will play three of their last four regular-season games on the road. Their next contest is at Missouri on Nov. 7.
The loss leaves Mississippi State in a difficult situation at the quarterback position. Coach Jeff Lebby noted the team's struggles with penalties. He said, “There’s a ton of frustration in those things, but my stress is make the layups.” The Bulldogs will host Vanderbilt on Nov. 7.
Rasheem Biles had eight tackles, three sacks, and two forced fumbles. He is a transfer from Pitt and has been a key player for the Texas defense. Texas also has injury concerns on offense. Cam Coleman, who caught Manning's first touchdown pass, left the game early for the second straight game. He was seen in street clothes on the sideline during the second half.
Texas finished the game with a dominant defensive performance. The Longhorns stay in the SEC title race with their win. Mississippi State’s offense was handed over to walk-on Parker Puckett for the second half after Swann's injury.
