In Arch Manning’s second start in the Red River Rivalry, the Longhorns quarterback threw the first pick-six of his college career.
And it ended up being a decisive one. When Oklahoma’s Peyton Bowen, a Denton Guyer product, returned Manning’s pass 42 yards for a touchdown on Saturday at the Cotton Bowl, the Sooners took a 24-17 lead with 6:32 remaining in the fourth quarter. Oklahoma had scored 17 unanswered points after trailing Texas 17-7 at halftime.
“I was trying to extend the play and throw it to Cam [Coleman] and missed high. You can’t do that backed up,” said Manning, who didn’t speak much postgame.
While Manning quickly redeemed himself on the next Longhorns possession, a seven-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 15-yard touchdown to Jermaine Bishop that tied the contest, he threw another interception with 19 seconds remaining.
That costly turnover set up Oklahoma’s game-winning drive, which ended with a 47-yard Tate Sandell field goal as time expired. The 27-24 loss was the No. 1 Longhorns’ first of the season and first to the Sooners since 2023.
Many could point to Texas’ special teams woes, penalties and its missed 53-yard field goal with just under two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter as reasons why it could not take care of Oklahoma on Saturday. Manning’s performance is another one.
“I can’t be loose with the ball,” Manning said.
He was 19 of 31 for 260 yards and three touchdowns, but those two late turnovers with the game close late will likely be what resonates most. They punctuated a slower day on the Texas offense, which finished 3 of 14 on third-down conversions and with 122 yards on the ground.
But Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian said postgame Manning fought throughout the whole contest.
With him at quarterback, Texas recorded 382 yards of offense to Oklahoma’s 238, and he helped put them in position to win twice on the team’s final touchdown drive and when he marched the Longhorns into field goal range late in the fourth quarter.
“I think Arch competed his tail off and he made some tremendous plays to the shots down the field to the drives when we had to have them,” Sarkisian said. “He went to make a play and the ball gets intercepted. … I think as the competitor in him he’d love to have that back, but he was competing.”
Sarkisian, knowing his No. 1 team had just been dethroned, emphasized repeatedly after the loss to Oklahoma that the Longhorns aren’t dead yet with many more big games remaining on their schedule.
All of Texas’ next five opponents are ranked, and that slate of games begins next week against Florida.
With hopes of winning out and securing a third bid to the College Football Playoff since 2023, the Longhorns will need more from Manning. And he knows that.
“We’ve got to do a better job, especially me not being loose with the ball,” Manning said.