Texas escapes in Starkville but questions linger for Arch Manning

It was 38–21 Mississippi State with 12:29 left in the fourth quarter. In that moment, Texas looked more Liberty Bowl than College Football Playoff.

But a roughing-the-passer flag on Arch Manning changed everything. The spark ignited a comeback for the ages, 24 unanswered points, a 45–38 overtime win, and the kind of rally that can rescue a season.

Manning finished with 29 completions for 346 yards and three touchdowns, several of them deep shots to sophomore Ryan Wingo, who averaged nearly 37 yards per catch. Yet even in victory, there was unease. Manning spent portions of the afternoon in and out of the medical tent, leaving his status for next week’s game against Vanderbilt uncertain.

Without him, this comeback never happens. Without it, Texas would be staring at a third loss before Halloween, the same fate that ended LSU’s playoff hopes weeks earlier.

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Now the Longhorns head home for what feels like a season-defining November.

An 11 a.m. kickoff Saturday at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium will determine whether this was the spark that saves the season, or the brief illusion before it fades away.

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