Quarterback Arch Manning overcame some bruises and a second-half turnover as the Texas football team recorded a 31-3 win over Mississippi State at Royal-Memorial Stadium on Halloween.
Manning got off to a good start against the Bulldogs as he completed 47- and 14-yard passes to Cam Coleman on a four-play scoring drive that opened the game. Manning later guided UT to a field goal on a second-quarter drive in which he took two notable hits – the second of which led to a bloody hand that he needed to get taped – but he entered halftime with just 89 passing yards.
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Manning lost a fumble on the Longhorns’ first drive of the second half, but he finished strong. In the third quarter, he lifted UT to a 24-3 lead with a 4-yard touchdown pass to running back Raleek Brown. He then threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to Emmett Mosley V in the fourth quarter.
With 3:51 left, Texas put backup quarterback KJ Lacey into the game and gave Manning the rest of the night off. He finished with 220 passing yards while completing 16 of his 20 attempts.
“I thought Arch competed his tail off,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said. “We needed him early in the game to use his legs in a couple different situations, and that showed up.”
Manning rushed for 10 yards on 13 rushing attempts. Five of those rushing attempts were Mississippi State sacks, but he also mixed scrambles with some designed run plays. Manning rushed for four first downs on Saturday, and one of his gains was for 12 yards.
Arch Manning, family have history against Mississippi State
On Saturday, Mississippi State became the first team that Manning has started three times against. During the 2024 season, Manning filled in for an injured Quinn Ewers for UT’s SEC debut. Manning then led the Longhorns back from a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter of a game at Starkville last season, but he was sidelined by a head injury for the game-winning play in overtime.
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As Texas went 2-0 in Manning’s first two starts against Mississippi State, he also compiled some impressive statistics:
- Texas 35, Mississippi State 13 (Sept. 28, 2024):26-of-31 for 325 yards, two touchdowns; one rushing touchdown
- Texas 45, Mississippi State 38 (Oct. 25, 2025): 29-of-46 for 346 yards, three touchdowns, one interception; one rushing touchdown
- Texas 31, Mississippi State 3 (Oct. 31, 2026): 16-of-20 for 220 yards, three touchdowns
Manning is now 3-0 against Mississippi State. Manning’s grandfather, Archie, went 1-0-1 against Mississippi State while playing for Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl while his uncle, Eli, posted a 2-1 record in that rivalry game. Tennessee beat Mississippi State in 1995 during Peyton Manning’s only start against the Bulldogs.
This article originally published at Texas football: Arch Manning posts solid numbers in Mississippi State win.
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