On the strength of arguably the best performance of the season by quarterback Arch Manning, the No. 20 Texas Longhorns outlasted the No. 9 Vanderbilt Commodores 34-31 at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas, on Saturday.
Manning was decisive and efficient throughout, finishing with 328 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions on 25-for-33 passing, as the Longhorns improved to 7-2 overall and 4-1 in SEC play.
Despite entering the season as the Heisman Trophy favorite, Manning has had his struggles, but the social media narrative surrounding him Saturday was hugely positive:
The nephew of legendary former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and Eli Manning, and grandson of former New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning, Arch had a ton of expectations to live up to in his first season as a starter.
Texas started a disappointing 3-2, and Manning threw at least one interception in each of the team’s first three and four of the first five games this season, plus he has failed to reach the 200-yard passing mark on four occasions.
However, Manning seemed to take a big step forward last week when he threw for 346 yards, three touchdowns and one pick, and helped the Longhorns overcome a 17-point deficit en route to victory against Mississippi State.
A concussion knocked Manning out of that game late, and he was not able to play in overtime. After spending much of the week in concussion protocol, he was cleared to play against Vandy, though.
It is fair to assume Manning received a huge confidence boost on the first offensive play of the game Saturday when wide receiver Ryan Wingo took his swing pass 75 yards for a touchdown:
Manning followed that up with a six-yard touchdown pass to running back CJ Baxter to extend the lead to 17-0 in the first quarter, and then he gave Texas a 21-point lead in the third quarter with a six-yard scoring toss to wide receiver Emmett Mosley V:
As good as Manning looked Saturday, the Longhorns benefited from a total team performance that has them looking like a potential CFP and national title contender once again.
Senior quarterback Diego Pavia is a big reason for Vandy’s offensive success this season, as he found himself in the thick of the Heisman Trophy race entering the game with 1,698 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions, plus 458 yards and five scores on the ground.
Pavia ended up with strong numbers Saturday, throwing for 365 yards, three touchdowns and no picks, while also rushing for 43 yards and a touchdown, but three of those scores came in the fourth quarter against a prevent defense when Texas was leading by multiple scores.
A touchdown with 33 seconds remaining got Vanderbilt within three points, but the Commodores failed to corral an onside kick before it went out of bounds, cementing the win for Texas.
Both Texas and Vanderbilt are both still alive when it comes to the CFP, but they may both need to run the table in order to get in.
Vandy has the easier path with games against unranked Auburn and Kentucky on tap before closing out the regular-season schedule against No. 14 Tennessee.
As for Texas, it has a bye next week before a meeting with No. 5 Georgia. That will be followed by unranked Arkansas and then No. 3 Texas A&M.
The Longhorns offered a look at just how good they can be on Saturday, and they will need to continue playing that well or better in order to navigate their supremely difficult remaining schedule en route to the CFP.