Arch Manning and Texas Outlast Missouri to Strengthen College Football Playoff Resume

Arch Manning leads Texas to road win at Missouri

Arch Manning threw for 297 yards and three touchdowns as the No. 7 Texas Longhorns secured a hard-fought victory against No. 18 Missouri in Columbia.

The win, which moved the Longhorns to 7-2 on the season, improves their College Football Playoff resume.

The game remained a tight contest through much of the afternoon, with the two teams locked in a 20-20 tie entering the fourth quarter. According to The Sporting News, the Longhorns’ impressive fourth-quarter performance ultimately shut the door on any hopes of a Missouri upset.

Texas relied on a late surge to overcome an early deficit. After Missouri took a 10-7 lead in the first quarter, the Longhorns responded to tie the game at 10-10 by halftime. The statistical battle in the first half was remarkably even, with Texas and Missouri recording nearly identical yardage totals through the first two quarters.

Texas Longhorns vs. Missouri Tigers | Full Game Highlights | ESPN College Football

Officiating decisions shift momentum at Memorial Stadium

The momentum in Memorial Stadium swung frequently, aided by several controversial officiating decisions in the replay booth.

Former referee Terry McCauley expressed his disagreement with that specific ruling on X, stating the play should have been “clearly and obviously an incomplete forward pass.”

Ncaa football texas at missouri — Photo: sportingnews.com

Despite the officiating tension, Texas’ defense provided the necessary stops to keep the game within reach. While Missouri quarterback Austin Simmons threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns, the Longhorns’ defense eventually neutralized the Tigers’ attack. The defensive unit’s most critical moment came when Graceson Littleton recovered a fumble by Cayden Lee, returning possession to the Texas offense.

The decisive fourth quarter

Texas took control of the game late in the third quarter when Manning connected with freshman Jermaine Bishop Jr. for a 25-yard touchdown, tying the score at 20-20. The Longhorns then took their first lead of the second half when Manning found Raleek Brown for a 23-yard touchdown pass with 5 minutes and 3 seconds remaining in the game.

Texas Longhorns vs. Missouri Tigers | Game Highlights | 2026 SEC Football

Brown continued his productive day by capping off the scoring with an 8-yard touchdown run with 1:25 left in the contest, as reported by College Football Report. This final score extended the lead to 34-20 and effectively ended the contest.

The statistical breakdown of the game shows the efficiency of the Texas offense in the closing stages:

Texas WINS at Missouri, 34-20: Steve Sarkisian, Arch Manning pick up big SEC road victory vs Mizzou

Player/Team	Statistic
Arch Manning (Texas)	297 passing yards, 3 TDs
Austin Simmons (Missouri)	252 passing yards, 2 TDs
Texas Total Offense	375 total yards
Raleek Brown (Texas)	TD receiver & TD runner

The victory was not without its lapses. Missouri found a significant opening in the third quarter when Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp called a corner blitz. Safety Jelani McDonald missed a tackle on Shaun Terry II, allowing the receiver to run for a 72-yard touchdown. The Sporting News noted this was the longest play the Texas defense had permitted all season.

Strengthening the playoff case

While Texas holds two losses, their strength of schedule remains a primary factor in their postseason outlook. The Longhorns now possess two road wins against ranked opponents, including a September 26 victory over No. 13 Tennessee. Earlier this season, Texas also secured a win over No. 10 Ole Miss at home and a Week 1 victory against No. 1 Ohio State.

Arch Manning delivers for No. 7 Texas in win over No. 18 Missouri

The implications of this win extend to the remaining SEC schedule. Texas must now prepare for a high-stakes matchup against LSU next Saturday, a game that features two potential College Football Playoff contenders. Following the LSU trip, the Longhorns face Arkansas at home and Texas A&M on the road.

The ability to win on the road against a ranked Missouri team that had previously defeated Florida provides the Longhorns with the “quality wins” necessary to offset their losses to unranked Oklahoma and Florida. As the season enters its final stretch, Texas and LSU have little room for error.

Texas travels to face LSU next Saturday.