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AUSTIN, TEXAS – OCTOBER 24: Arch Manning #16 of the Texas Longhorns reacts after rushing for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Ole Miss Rebels at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Tim Warner\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
AUSTIN\u00a0\u2014 The college experience is all about finding yourself, right?\u00a0<\/p>\n
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And maybe Arch Manning<\/a>, in his senior season, learned a little about himself this past week that might just go a long way.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI think I kinda like being disregarded and counted out,\u201d he said late Saturday after Texas\u2019 34-27 win over No. 7 Ole Miss<\/a>. \u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Then he flashed maybe the first big smile he\u2019s had in six weeks since, oh, that win over Ohio State. \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n Since then, it\u2019s been a long, increasingly painful slog. Got a social media whipping after responding to a question about an unfortunate Holly Rowe meme. Threw a pair of picks,<\/a> including one that was returned for a touchdown, in losing to unranked Oklahoma. Stumbled all through the second half of another loss to Florida, another unranked team. Found himself the center of a quarterback controversy to start the week<\/a> and had to deal with backup KJ Lacey getting some of his reps during it. \u00a0<\/p>\n Shoot, by Saturday there were rumors he\u2019d be at\u00a0Ole Miss next year, where surely only being the third Manning to play quarterback there wouldn\u2019t carry nearly the pressure of being the guy at Texas<\/a>. \u00a0<\/p>\n It all may have finally pushed Manning to unleash his edgier side. He entered the stadium with a strut, and through a dominant first half, he preened and pointed and let his linemen lift him to the sky after a touchdown run. \u00a0<\/p>\n It was the response Steve Sarkisian wanted. Needed, really. The Longhorns’ faint playoff hopes \u2014 and maybe his long-term job security \u2014 rested on Manning discovering something that had been absent the last couple of weeks. \u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n AUSTIN, TX – OCTOBER 24: Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning #16 runs for a touchdown during the SEC football game between the Texas Longhorns and Ole Miss on October 24, 2026, at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, TX. (Photo by David Buono\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)<\/p>\n Icon Sportswire\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n The numbers weren\u2019t terribly sexy, but he had an edge, and he made plays. Threw for only 212 yards. Had more interceptions (two) than passing touchdowns (one). But he also gave Texas real life with a 19-yard second-quarter scramble on third-and-17 and followed it up with a 50-yard play-action touchdown. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m proud of Arch,\u201d Sarkisian said. \u201cHe used his legs at opportune times, which is something he wanted to do and something we were hopeful he would do. But I think more than anything, it was his resolve, his grit and his mentality. That was important for the team, because I think that edginess carried over to our team, and I think our team played that way because of him. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s the quarterback, and when he responds that way, I think the team responds to that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n