STARKVILLE, Miss. \u2014 When it comes to sports clich\u00e9s, it’s often said that the most popular player on a football team is the backup quarterback.<\/p>\n
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For\u00a0Texas football<\/a>, that may not be the case. At least not when the starter is Arch Manning<\/a>, the NIL poster child from a famed football family who was once a popular backup himself.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Texas return man Ryan\u00a0Niblett catches a pass before the game against the Oklahoma Sooners on Oct. 11, 2025 at Cotton Bow in Dallas.<\/p>\n Tim Warner\/Getty Images Texas wide receiver Ryan Niblett (21) runs a punt back against Mississippi State during the second half\u00a0in Starkville, Miss. on Oct. 25, 2025.<\/p>\n James Pugh\/Associated Press Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian coaches from the sidelines against Mississippi State during the first half Oct. 25, 2025 in\u00a0Starkville, Miss.<\/p>\n James Pugh\/Associated Press Mississippi State safety Hunter Washington (right) makes a tackle against Texas during the second half Oct. 25, 2025\u00a0in Starkville, Miss.<\/p>\n James Pugh\/Associated Press Texas defensive back Jaylon Guilbeau (3) celebrates with linebacker Ty’Anthony Smith, right, during overtime\u00a0against Mississippi State on Oct. 25, 2025 in Starkville, Miss.<\/p>\n James Pugh\/Associated Press Troy quarterback Matthew Caldwell lines up under center during the first half\u00a0agains the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers \u00a0on Nov. 2, 2024 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy, Alabama.<\/p>\n Brandon Sumrall\/Getty Images Troy quarterback Matthew Caldwell celebrates a first half touchdown against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers on Nov. 2, 2024 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy, Alabama.<\/p>\n Brandon Sumrall\/Getty Images Texas quarterback Matthew Caldwell warms up before a\u00a0game against Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl on Oct. 11, 2025, in Dallas. Texas won 23-6.\u00a0<\/p>\n Jeffrey McWhorter\/Associated Press Texas returner Ryan Niblett on the field at Texas vs. UTEP on Sept. 13, 2025 in Austin.\u00a0<\/p>\n The University of Texas Athletic\/University Images via Getty Imag<\/p>\n But for one night in Mississippi, there probably wasn’t a Longhorn more liked than Matthew Caldwell. In Saturday’s 45-38 win at Mississippi State’s Davis Wade Stadium<\/a>, Caldwell relieved an injured Manning in overtime and threw the winning touchdown to Emmett\u00a0Mosley V. The victory kept Texas (6-2, 3-1) in contention for a spot in the Southeastern Conference championship game and prevented a season on the brink from completely imploding.<\/p>\n “Coach Sark always tells us that you’re either going to get one play or 75 plays so make the most out of every play. I think (Caldwell) did just that,” receiver Ryan Wingo said.<\/p>\n Texas quarterback Matthew Caldwell (18) celebrates with running back Christian Clark after the game Oct. 25, 2025 at Davis Wade Stadium in\u00a0Starkville, Miss.<\/p>\n Justin Ford\/Getty Images<\/p>\n A backup quarterback steps up for Texas. Again.<\/p>\n NO. 20 TEXAS VS. NO. 9 VANDERBILT<\/p>\n When\/where:\u00a011 a.m. Saturday at Royal-Memorial Stadium.<\/p>\n TV\/radio: ABC; 1300 AM, 98.1 FM, 105.3 FM<\/p>\n Over the past few years, backup quarterbacks have been tied to some of UT’s biggest successes.\u00a0Texas would not have reached the Big 12 championship game and Sugar Bowl during the 2018 season had Shane Buechele not closed out wins over Baylor and Iowa State after Sam Ehlinger exited with injuries.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The Longhorns wouldn’t have qualified for the 2023\u00a0CFP had Maalik Murphy not been a capable fill-in for Quinn Ewers for two starts. Securing a playoff berth last year? That wouldn’t have happened if Texas had stumbled in the two games that Manning had to start while Ewers was again on the mend.<\/p>\n MORE: 3 questions facing Arch Manning, Longhorns after comeback win<\/a><\/p>\n On Saturday, it was Caldwell’s turn to relish in a reserve role.<\/p>\n After Manning pulled UT out of a 17-point hole in the fourth quarter, he was injured while scrambling for 13 yards on the first play of overtime. Texas turned to Caldwell and quickly gained 7 yards on a\u00a0Quintrevion Wisner run before an illegal snap penalty moved the offense backward. Facing second down, Caldwell lofted a pass that a toe-tapping Mosley caught in the end zone<\/a>. The officiating crew initially ruled\u00a0Mosley was out of bounds, but a review overturned that call.\u00a0Texas then made a stop on defense to secure the victory and stun thousands of cowbell-clanking fans and a Mississippi State team that was looking for its first conference win since 2023.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n After the game, Caldwell shared that he called an audible ahead of the decisive throw. A fifth-year senior who\u00a0transferred to Texas from Troy this past spring<\/a>, Caldwell said “we had a (run-pass option) on and I tagged Emmett on just a fade, and then threw it up to him, let him go make a play.”<\/p>\n Said Mosley: “I got the audible from Matt, and then gave him a little release. I\u00a0just tracked the ball through the air and just came down with the catch.”<\/p>\n Texas quarterback Matthew Caldwell (18) warms up before a\u00a0game against Florida on Oct. 4, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla. Florida defeated Texas 29-21.\u00a0<\/p>\n Gary McCullough\/Associated Press<\/p>\n Who exactly is Matthew Caldwell?<\/p>\n Texas is the fourth stop in the 6-foot-4, 209-pound Caldwell’s career. Raised in Alabama, he started at Jacksonville State, spent two years with the Gardner-Webb\u00a0Runnin’ Bulldogs and played at Troy last year. He was the No. 122-ranked quarterback in this year’s offseason transfer portal, according to 247Sports.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Caldwell said he chose to transfer to Texas, a school with an established starter, for his final season because the Longhorns were the “best team in the nation, in my opinion. The culture is established. I felt it on the visit, (it was) different than anything I’ve ever seen.”<\/p>\n At Texas, Caldwell found himself competing with redshirt freshman Trey Owens and freshman KJ Lacey for the QB2 gig<\/a>. None of the backups were needed in the Longhorns’ season opener at Ohio State, but UT\u00a0 revealed that Caldwell was Manning’s backup when he got playing time in the fourth quarter of the 38-7 win over San Jos\u00e9 State the following week.<\/p>\n “He definitely has a sense of maturity about him,” Texas coach Steve\u00a0Sarkisian said. “I think his rapport with Arch was part of (why he won the backup job). They’ve got a great relationship. And he’s got this, you know, ‘I’ve been at Gardner-Webb. I’ve been at Troy. Now I’m at Texas, I’m going to take advantage of my opportunity that I get.'”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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