With Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers out for the second consecutive game, redshirt freshman Arch Manning went 26 for 31 through the air in his second career start as the Longhorns beat Mississippi State 35-13 in their first conference game as an SEC member.
Texas was favored by more than five touchdowns at kickoff but struggled to get going against the Bulldogs, who entered on a three-game losing streak. But a 49-yard touchdown pass from Manning to DeAndre Moore Jr. in the final minute of the first half and a 75-yard touchdown drive Manning finished off with his legs late in the third quarter created some separation for the nation’s No. 1 team.
How Manning looked
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian installed a much different game plan than the one he used in Manning’s first start, last week’s 51-3 win over Louisiana-Monroe.
That game was littered with deep pass plays — Manning attempted 10 of more than 20 air yards, per TruMedia — but Sarkisian sprinkled in many more short and intermediate throws this week. Manning’s efficiency improved as a result, after he went 15 for 29 in his first start.
The Longhorns actually leaned on Manning heavily early on as the running game struggled to get going. Texas had just 10 rushing yards in the first half.
Manning also took much better care of the ball, avoiding throws into coverage or other danger zones and finished the day without an interception.
He also showed off his running ability again with a 26-yard run that set up an eventual 1-yard touchdown sneak.
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Longhorns’ sloppy start
Elite teams are not immune to underwhelming performances and No. 1 Texas is no exception. The Longhorns had to find a way to survive scares from Kansas State and Houston en route to the College Football Playoff last season.
To win the SEC, Texas needs to find a way to win its clunkers, and Saturday certainly qualified as that. Two turnovers, a turnover on downs, a dropped would-be touchdown pass and minimal offensive possessions in the first half made Texas’ SEC opener against Mississippi State a slog.
Complicating matters was an unconventional strategy from Bulldogs head coach Jeff Lebby, who is known for his wide-open offense that typically operates at a breakneck tempo. Coming into Saturday’s game, Mississippi State had the third-shortest average time of possession per play in the FBS, with only one drive that lasted five or more minutes, according to TruMedia.
But in Saturday’s first half, the Bulldogs had two drives stretch past the five-minute mark, including their opening drive that took seven minutes, eight seconds. That strategy controlled the pace and kept Texas from running away with it while also minimizing the pressure on true freshman quarterback Michael Van Buren, who was making his starting debut on the road.
Although the Bulldogs eked out just two field goals before the break, they limited Texas to four first-half possessions, two of which came up empty. A Jaydon Blue fumble ended one, and a third-down drop by receiver Johntay Cook on a deep pass led to a punt on the other.
But Manning bookended those miscues by leading touchdown drives on Texas’ first and last possessions of the first half. Texas’ ability to pull away in the second half was the sign of a mature team.
How Texas pulled away
The Longhorns’ running game took a while to get going, but once it did, Texas took control.
Sarkisian’s early game plan was pass-heavy (the Longhorns called on their running backs for just six first-half carries), but Tre Wisner and Jaydon Blue got going in the second half and finished with a combined 124 rushing yards on the day.
Although the start was disjointed, Texas’ win was encouraging in multiple ways. The Longhorns’ success leaning on Manning and the passing game showed that even with Heisman Trophy candidate Quinn Ewers out, that part of the team can carry them if needed.
And Sarkisian and offensive coordinator Kyle Flood made the necessary adjustments to get the running game going in the second half, which Texas needed in order to pull away. The offensive line and running backs responded with better second-half execution to move the chains and keep the ball in their hands rather than allowing Mississippi State to continue to control the pace.
(Photo: Tim Warner / Getty Images)
