AUSTIN, TEXAS – In a commanding display of football, Arch Manning led the No. 11 Texas Longhorns to a decisive 31-3 victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Saturday night. Manning threw for three touchdowns, while Maraad Watson made a significant impact by returning a fumble 61 yards for a touchdown just before halftime.
The game saw Mississippi State’s quarterback AJ Swann exit with an arm injury during the pivotal fumble play, while Texas’s standout receiver Cam Coleman also left the game early and did not return. The specific details regarding Coleman’s injury have not been made public, as he was later seen in street clothes during the second half.
Texas improved its record to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the Southeastern Conference, continuing its pursuit of the SEC title. This victory marks the Longhorns’ second consecutive win after a pair of midseason losses.
Manning opened the scoring with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Coleman on the fourth play of the game. The match slowed to a defensive battle until Watson’s fumble return allowed Texas to extend its lead to 17-0 just before halftime. Swann, making his first start of the season in place of the injured Kamario Taylor, was sacked, leading to the fumble that Watson capitalized on for the score.
Swann’s injury left Mississippi State in a tough spot, forcing them to rely on Parker Puckett, a walk-on quarterback who had previously started in Taylor’s absence. Despite completing 12 of his 15 passes before his injury, Swann’s departure was a significant blow to the Bulldogs’ offensive strategy.
In the second half, Manning further solidified the victory with touchdown passes to Raleek Brown and Emmett Mosely V, as the Mississippi State defense, which had recorded six sacks on Manning, began to falter under pressure.
With this loss, Mississippi State fell to 4-4 overall and 2-4 in the SEC, marking their fourth consecutive defeat after a promising 4-0 start to the season. Taylor, who had been a standout player early in the season, has not played in the last four games due to a season-ending toe injury that required surgery.
The Longhorns will next face Missouri on November 7, while Mississippi State is set to host Vanderbilt on the same day. Both teams will look to rebound and address their respective challenges as they head deeper into the season.
