Texas Longhorns running back Raleek Brown tries to run past Mississippi Rebels linebacker Suntarine Perkins in the first quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin on Saturday Oct. 24, 2026.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
AUSTIN – You need analytics for this?
On Friday, Texas announced its next wave of high-tech game-planning, an AI-driven database called “Bevo Lab.” On Saturday, they returned to the 1970s, by running hard, particularly in the fourth quarter, to preserve a 34-27 win over No. 7 Ole Miss.
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It may be enough to keep the brewing controversy over the futures of Arch Manning and Steve Sarkisian at bay. At least for a week or so. Led by Raleek Brown, Texas rushed for a season-high 207 yards and scored the deciding touchdown with a ground-focused attack.
Here are five thoughts amid a relieved DKR crowd of 104,306:
The 100-yard dash
After an absolutely horrific third quarter, in which Texas lost a 21-point lead, the Longhorns retook the lead midway through the fourth quarter by going back to the running game that led to the first 100-yard performance by a running back this season.
On three consecutive plays, Brown and Michael Terry III, gashed big holes in Ole Miss’ weak run defense before Manning scampered in on a 1-yard bootleg. Brown started it with a strong cutback move that opened things up for a 47-yard run. It pushed him over 100 yards to 118 on 18 carries.
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Terry added consecutive runs of 12 and 19 yards to set up the touchdown run.
Shades of Earl
Texas’ biggest offensive weakness entering the game was its inability to put together a consistent running game. And maybe focusing more on the run was what Sarkisian was referring to this week when asked about self-evaluating the offensive game plan.
“I think without disclosing game-planning,” he said, “I think, there will be some adjustments to what we do.”
Texas, which entered the game ranked No. 102 among the 138 FBS teams in rushing offense at 135 yards per game, rushed 19 times for 87 yards in the half. While Manning’s run might have been the most important run of the half, a 23-yarder by Brown was the most impressive and led to Texas’ first touchdown. Along the way, Brown, pointing out assignments for his blockers, also completely trucked Ole Miss safety Joenel Aguero.
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Penalty problems
Texas may have won the game and kept the hopes for a CFP berth alive, but it was unnecessarily sloppy with self-inflicted issues. Texas racked up 134 penalty yards on 14 penalties, including three pass interferences and four calls for personal fouls or roughing the passer.
It’s the most penalty yards for Texas in the Steve Sarkisian Era. The last time Texas had more was on Halloween 2020 when it piled up 142 yards in a 41-34 overtime win over Oklahoma State. The previous high in Sarkisian’s tenure: 115 yards at Tennessee on Sept. 26.
Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) dives into the end zone for a touchdown against Mississippi linebacker Luke Ferrelliand and Mississippi linebacker Luke Ferrelli in the first quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin on Saturday Oct. 24, 2026.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Golden Arch
Steve Sarkisian challenged Arch Manning after Texas’ loss to Florida and, apparently, the message landed. At least for a half.
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Manning accounted for 201 yards of offense in the first half, but consecutive plays midway through the second quarter were peak Arch. On third-and-17 from his own 32, Manning scrambled through a collapsing pocket for a 19-yard run to extend the drive. Then, on the next play, he stood his ground on play action and delivered a perfect ball to Ryan Wingo for a pretty 50-yard touchdown.
According to ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit, Sarkisian told Manning early in the week that he was going to give backup KJ Lacey some reps and “it is what it is.”
But Sarkisian also told Herbstreit: “I’m blown away by how Arch responded in practice. I wish I had done it sooner.”
Injuries mounting
The herd of Longhorns’ first-round draft talents is being dangerously thinned out by injury.
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A week after Colin Simmons, perhaps the top edge rusher in the 2027 draft class, was lost to an ankle injury, the Longhorns lost two potential first-rounders.
With five minutes left in the first quarter, left tackle Trevor Goosby, the No. 2-ranked offensive tackle on ESPN’s draft board, went down with what appeared to be a left leg injury. He was attended to on the field, before leaving via cart. There was no update on the status of the injury.
The loss of Goosby was felt early in the third quarter when Ole Miss’ Blake Purchase beat backup Andre Cojoe and blindsided Manning, jarring the ball loose in the process. Cojoe had a chance to fall on the ball, but it scooted out from under him and Ole Miss’ Kam Franklin flopped on it for a touchdown. It’s the fourth time this season Texas has allowed a turnover or a kick return for a score.
In the second quarter, receiver Cam Coleman, projected by ESPN at No. 21, landed hard on his left shoulder and was slow to get up. He was helped off the field and did not return. Earlier in the game, Coleman had an egregious drop on a long pass from Manning when he’d badly beaten the defense.
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