LEXINGTON, Ky. — Texas football turned Kroger Field into the biggest escape room in America on Saturday.
A 16-13 overtime win over last-place Kentucky was as ugly as it sounded, but the No. 21 Longhorns will take it.
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Cole Brevard, Michael Taaffe and Liona Lefeau stoned running back Dante Dowdell in overtime to set up Mason Shipley’s 45-yard game-winning field goal, but the real concern moving forward has to be with an offense that’s averaging just 20 points a game in conference play.
“It’s good to be 2-1 in the SEC,” said coach Steve Sarkisian, who slapped the table at the end of his postgame interview.
PHOTOS: Pictures from Texas’ nail-biting win over Kentucky
Texas quarterback Arch Manning (16) and offensive lineman Brandon Baker after a win against Kentucky on Oct. 18, 2025, at Kroger Field in Lexington.
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He’s the happy coach who was driving the getaway car out of Lexington, but he is also smart enough to know his current offense isn’t cutting it if this team has any realistic conference title/playoff aspirations. Beset by some old but familiar struggles that crept back into quarterback Arch Manning’s game, the Horns called upon a reliable defense that pulled this one out of the fire despite tripping over their tongues on the way to the visitor’s locker room. They had been on the field for 86 plays and nearly 40 minutes of regulation.
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SOCIAL REACTIONS: Much love for Texas defense, special teams
Manning completed 12 of 27 passes for 132 passes and committed no turnovers for the second straight game, but he didn’t resemble the quarterback who was an efficient 21 of 27 against Oklahoma. He also wore a pained expression sitting alongside Taaffe, his buddy who was pumping sunshine in response to what he called negative questions in the interview room.
“I think we get the best of both worlds because it almost feels like a loss for the offense,” Manning said. “We’ll be able to attack it this week in practice and learn a lot and improve.”
The Horns finished with 179 yards — the lowest of the Sarkisian era — and could have been on the business end of an embarrassing setback and the end of any title hopes had they lost to a team that’s 1-11 in its last 12 conference games dating back to last season.
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Texas is 5-2 overall and 2-1 in league play, but the offense is in dire need of a reboot. That said, getting a win over the the last-place team in the SEC is much better than the alternative. Moving forward, Sarkisian must figure out how his quarterback can look so good in one game and then not have it the next. Manning did complete a massive third-down slant on the pivotal final drive to put the Horns in front, but he has to be much more than a part-time playmaker if the Horns want to beat teams like Vanderbilt, Georgia and Texas A&M.
Right now, Ryan Niblett is their best playmaker and he barely plays on offense. His punt returns of 43 and 45 yards led to 10 points, but the “O” had no go during regulation. Manning is far from a one-man gang, but there are a couple of non-negotiables that come with playing the position. For one, you have to complete the simple throws and he missed far too many wide open receivers.
Texas pass rusher Trey Moore sacks Cutter Boley (8) on Oct. 18, 2025 at Kroger Field in Lexington.
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Still, a win in the SEC counts as long as one outscores the other team.
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Mississippi State is no longer a slam dunk on the road. The cowbells will be clanging and Stark-Vegas will be primed to try to spring an upset over a 5-2 opponent that has next to no wiggle room when it comes to its College Football Playoff hopes. The Horns played a complete game in all phases against Oklahoma, but Sarkisian was the first to say this team’s identity is one of defense and special teams.
That has to be a tough pill to swallow for Sark, whose reputation as an elite play-caller hasn’t been elevated in his fifth season.
They’re winning, but a storm is coming if the offense doesn’t hold up its end.
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